§ 6. Mr. Barnesasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will 790 issue a general direction to the Post Office Corporation to publish details of the stages by which their services return to normal, following any disruption of service.
§ Mr. ChatawayNo, Sir. This is a management matter for the Post Office.
§ Mr. BarnesWill the Minister say how it was that Mr. Ryland gave the impression on television immediately after the strike that the first-class post would be back to normal within a few days? Is he aware that many people have been posting first-class letters on the assumption that they would get to their destination the next day only to find that some have taken as long as a week? Why could not the Post Office have made a series of announcements guaranteeing that 90 per cent. of first-class mail would be delivered within two days, or three days, and so on?
§ Mr. ChatawayMy information is that Mr. Ryland warned on television and at a Press conference immediately after the strike that it would take up to six weeks to get back to normal. I am told that the first-class post is back to normal, although there are still some second-class arrears at a few offices.