§ 32. Mr. Kenneth Bakerasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what representations he has received 21 from the Post Office Users Council on the reliability of the first-class postal service.
§ Mr. StonehouseNone, Sir.
§ Mr. BakerIs not the Minister concerned about the declining standards of the postal service? Has he seen the survey by Aims of Industry—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—which is fully supported by complaints from my own constituents, to the effect that 10 per cent. of first-class letters go astray and are not delivered on time?
§ Mr. StonehouseI think the House would be ill-advised to allow the survey of Aims of Industry, which is a political body, to guide it rather than objectivity. I would prefer to advise the House to look at the survey conducted by the Evening Standard, which came to the conclusion that the postal service was doing and is doing a good job.
§ Mr. StonehouseI am not suggesting that at all, but everybody knows that the Aims of Industry organisation is a political organisation sponsored by supporters of the Conservative Party. It is doing its best to embarrass this great public service by introducing political controversy into it, and that is why I would advise the House to look at some of the other surveys, in particular the Evening Standard survey, before jumping to any conclusions.
§ Mr. MaudlingThis is not good enough. Is the Minister saying that the Aims of Industry survey is dishonest, or is he not saying it?
§ Mr. StonehouseI am advising the House not to be guided by any particular survey. I am anxious that the House should come to a reasonable conclusion and take into account other objective surveys which have been conducted.