HC Deb 25 January 1968 vol 757 c567
16. Mr. Bryan

asked the Postmaster-General what is the average time for the transmission of first-class mail in the London area.

20. Mr. John Smith

asked the Postmaster-General what is the average time for transmission of first-class mail in the London area; and how this compares with the position in 1964, 1965, and 1966, respectively.

Mr. Edward Short

Fully paid letters for addresses in London and posted in time for the last collection in London should be delivered by first post the next working day. With comparatively few exceptions this service is being given. Current levels of public complaint in London about the letter service are substantially less than in the years mentioned.

Mr. Bryan

Could not the Postmaster-General give rather more precise figures as he is able to do for deliveries in the country in general? For instance, how does the figure of 94 per cent. for the country in general compare with the London figure?

Mr. Short

The figure for London is about the average for the rest of the country. Our great problem in London, as in postal services throughout the world, is the labour problem. We have 1,200 vacancies for postmen in London.

Mr. Smith

Will the Postmaster-General remember that there is a close relation between the efficiency of the postal service and the amount of telephoning which is done, and that the better the postal service, the less wasteful and distracting use there will be of the telephone, particularly of my telephone?

Mr. Short

That is something from which all hon. Members suffer. I agree that London has a rather special problem because of the labour difficulties, especially in the West End of London. Nevertheless, all things considered, it is a reasonably good service.