HC Deb 03 July 1969 vol 786 cc632-3
27. Mr. R. C. Mitchell

asked the Postmaster-General what percentage of letters bearing a 4d. stamp is now being delivered three or more days after posting.

Mr. Stonehouse

About 9 per cent.

Mr. Mitchell

Are there any significant regional variations in those figures?

Mr. Stonehouse

No, Sir. There are, of course, reasons relating to distance and the fact that some addressees are remote, which means that some second-class mail takes longer, but as between main towns there is no particular variation.

Mr. Longden

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that our postal service is becoming such that it is no longer a question of when a letter gets there but a question of whether it gets there?

Mr. Stonehouse

I completely reject that foolish suggestion. All our statistics show that our operational achievement has improved considerably, and we are providing the most reliable postal service in the world.

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