§ 19. Mr. Gowerasked the Postmaster-General if he will give particulars of 1050 manpower shortages and of the grades in his Department which are affected in England and in Wales, respectively.
§ Mr. Joseph SlaterRecruitment to basic grades employed in the Post Office is generally on a local basis and the position varies from town to town. In London and parts of the Midlands and Home Counties, where there is a general shortage of labour, there are shortages of postmen, telephonists, and technicians. In London there are also shortages of counter staff, overseas telegraph operators, typists and machine operators.
There are no serious manpower shortages in the Post Office in Wales.
§ Mr. GowerIn view of what he has said, can the hon. Gentleman say whether he considers that staff shortages are the chief reason why I have received complaints from several parts of my constituency about very late postal deliveries and suggestions that postal deliveries in many villages in my constituency are now later than ever before? Can he explain this marked deterioration in the service of the Post Office?
§ Mr. SlaterIf the hon. Gentleman has been inundated with complaints, as he suggests, perhaps he will let me have them and I will have them investigated. However, I must repeat that my information is that there is no staff shortage in Wales itself.