§ 16. Mr. Bryanasked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking in the postal services to help exporters improve their service to customers overseas.
§ Mr. BennI understand that the hon. Gentleman has in mind delays to mail from abroad. These have been caused mainly by shortage of postal staff in this country. We have had a vigorous staff recruitment campaign and we have also taken special operational steps to relieve the most hard-pressed offices. I am glad to tell the House that, as a result of these measures, there has recently been a marked improvement in the service.
§ Mr. BryanIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that my question relates to the firm of Messrs. Reginald Dickens of Harrold near Bedford, which complained about letters from America which last May took nine days; was then assured that there would be an improvement, but in September was still losing orders because of the slowness of its foreign mail? Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether he can give us any better news? It is the lack of improvement, not the situation itself, which is the biggest worry for our exporters. They have not detected any improvement yet.
§ Mr. SpeakerThat was a long supplementary question.
§ Mr. BennAs the hon. Gentleman will know, when dealing with international mail it is not only delays in this country which affect the timing of deliveries. All postal administrations suffer difficulties similar to those which we experience. However, I can say that 1,000 vacancies have been filled since May as the result of a vigorous recruitment campaign, although the Post Office will not be satisfied until the standard of services offered is satisfactory all round.