HC Deb 15 May 1969 vol 783 cc1613-4
2 and 3. Mr. Peter Mills

asked the Postmaster-General (1) what increase or decrease there has been, since the introduction of the two-tier post, in the amount of internal air mail;

(2) what increase or decrease there has been, since the introduction of the two-tier post, in payments to British European Airways for internal air mail carriage.

The Postmaster-General (Mr. John Stonehouse)

Six per cent. decrease in weight. Payments are about £10,000 a month higher following revision of our contract with B.E.A. for the first time since 1959.

Mr. Mills

Is it not a fact that at present mail is not moving faster internally? Indeed, everyone now realises that the two-tier system is not working and that mail is not moving so fast, particularly in the South-West.

Mr. Stonehouse

I cannot agree. The first-class mail reliability is very good, with an overall performance of 94 per cent. delivery the next day. The second-class mail performance for delivery the day after that is also very high.