24. Mr. Bob Brownasked the Postmaster-General if he is satisfied with the progress being made by the building industry in fitting standard letter-boxes at the correct height on new developments.
§ Mr. Joseph SlaterAlthough in some places progress has been good, I would welcome a greater effort by the building industry as a whole to comply with the British Standard specifications for letter boxes.
Mr. BrownWould my hon. Friend agree that every hon. Member has at some time suffered from the rat-trap type of postbox which is in use? Is not this cruelty to Parliamentary candidates as well as to postmen? What is being done actively to encourage the use of standard letter boxes?
§ Mr. SlaterI support the greater part of what my hon. Friend says. We have drawn the attention of architects, builders, local authorities and householders through various forms of publicity to the need to fit proper letter boxes, and we have sought the co-operation of various representative bodies concerned with building standards and the supply of letter boxes. I sincerely hope that progress will be made as a result of the application which we have made.
§ Dr. WinstanleyWhile taking further steps in this important matter, would the hon. Gentleman take the opportunity of taking steps regarding house numbers, which are of equal importance to his Department?
§ Mr. SlaterThat is a reasonable observation which is very important to the people who are responsible for delivering the mail.