§ 28. Mr. Chichester-Clarkasked the Postmaster-General what factors govern the permitted size of parcels sent by parcel post within the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Joseph SlaterThe size of the fittings and the machines used for sorting and handling the parcels, and the bags in which they are moved about the country.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkIn view of the difficulties of the shirt industry which the hon. Gentleman knows, can his Department make any suggestions to try to solve this problem?
§ Mr. SlaterEven if we could avoid expensive changes in machinery, fewer such parcels would go into the bag and handling costs would go up. As the hon. Gentleman knows, I have had conversations with the people in Northern Ireland on this matter, and I hope soon to be able to give a more favourable reply.
§ Sir Knox CunninghamWould the hon. Gentleman ask his right hon. Friend to speed up the delivery of parcels between Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
§ Mr. SlaterWe are doing everything we possibly can even in regard to the parcels service.
§ Mr. Emrys HughesIs the Assistant Postmaster-General aware that one of the difficulties in Northern Ireland, and especially in Belfast, is that there appears to be a little "Gestapo" at the post office in Belfast which is still censoring the parcels of a certain minority? Will he look into the fact that a room at the 615 post office in Belfast is being used for this "Gestapo" purpose?
§ Mr. SlaterI do not think that that is a matter for us. I made a visit to Belfast during the Whitsun Recess and no operations of this type were brought to my notice.