§ 27. Sir W. Bromley-Davenportasked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that letters now take two days to reach the Knutsford division from London; and whether he will give an assurance that when the new postage rates come into effect the service will be improved.
§ Mr. Joseph SlaterI am sorry that some letters from the Knutsford Division have taken as long as two days to reach the addresses. One of the main causes of delay is shortage of staff in some of our main sorting offices, and especially in London. We are doing everything possible to recruit additional staff, and my right hon. Friend hopes that his recent offer of improvements in postmen's pay will help. I can assure the hon. and gallant Gentleman that we shall at all times try to provide as good a service as we possibly can.
§ Sir W. Bromley-DavenportIs the hon. Gentleman aware that before the war—[HON. MEMBERS: "Which war?"]—letters posted in the Knutsford division in the morning were delivered in London in the evening of the same day? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that now not only do letters take two days to be delivered but sometimes they never arrive at all? [HON. MEMBERS: "HOW do you know?"] Would not the Assistant Postmaster-General agree that this is yet another example of a nationalised industry giving the worst service at increased cost?
§ Mr. SlaterI have noted the observasions of the hon. and gallant Gentleman——
§ Sir W. Bromley-DavenportThank you.
§ Mr. Slater—but during these many years I have never witnessed the hon. and gallant Gentleman seeking to put forward proposals for the denationalisation of the Post Office.
§ Sir W. Bromley-DavenportI am not on the Front Bench.
§ Mr. SlaterThere is no evidence that any material proportion of the fully paid letters from the division of Knutsford has taken as long as two days from postage to delivery. Neither is there evidence to suggest that the quality of the postal service provided in the Knutsford division is inferior to that provided elsewhere.