HC Deb 26 October 1966 vol 734 cc1001-3
33. Sir G. Nabarro

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give details of the improvements in postal services which have taken place during 1966.

Mr. Short

The House will not wish me to itemise our constant efforts towards improvements; but our information based on continuous sampling processes using modern sampling techniques shows that some 92 per cent. of fully paid inland letters are now delivered by the next working day after posting, compared with 90 per cent. mentioned in our Report and Accounts for last year.

Sir G. Nabarro

How does the right hon. Gentleman reconcile his statement last Wednesday that there has been a slight improvement in postal services during 1966 with the increased public clamour to the contrary and the abundant evidence that postal services are worse than they have ever been since the introduction of the penny post in 1840?

Mr. Short

The only increase in public clamour is from the Opposition. The number of complaints which we receive has dropped considerably. I repeat that there has been a 2 per cent. improvement in first post deliveries this year.

Mr. Mikardo

Would my right hon. Friend undertake to put in the Library a list of all the British firms which carry out 92 per cent. of their promised deliveries on time? Would he be good enough to take it from me that he would not need many sheets of paper for the purpose?

Mr. Short

I do not know whether we can put it in the Library, but I can tell my hon. Friend that over 9,000 contracts in the Post Office are now behind delivery date.

Mr. Bryan

Is the Postmaster-General aware that in his worthy efforts to defend his Department he is beginning to sound rather self-satisfied? Would he tell the House to what extent he has gone into the report of the Sun newspaper published on—[HON. MEMBERS: "That is the next Question."] No—in which it was reported that 200 million letters per annum are lost or delayed in post? May we have the results of his investigations into that report?

Mr. Roebuck

On a point of order.

Mr. Speaker

I take it that the hon. Gentleman is suggesting that the hon. Member for Howden (Mr. Bryan) is anticipating Question No. 34. I understood from the hon. Member's remarks that he was referring to some other statement in the Sun newspaper.

Mr. Bryan

May I complete the question?

Mr. Speaker

Briefly, please.

Mr. Bryan

Perhaps the Postmaster-General would also comment on the report that 4,750 letters each week are delayed on the way to Newmarket?

Mr. Short

Both parts of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question are deductions drawn from completely inaccurate premises, and therefore they are inaccurate.