§ 7. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will issue a general direction to the Post Office Corporation to investi- 398 gate the delay in delivery of Her Majesty's mails.
§ 21. Mr. David Clarkasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he is satisfied with the delivery of first-class mail; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ChatawayI have no reason to believe that the Post Office is failing in the duties laid upon it in Section 9 of the Post Office Act, 1969, and I do not think a general direction is called for.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonAlthough we are becoming inured to slower posts, is not the capriciousness of deliveries becoming quite terrifying and destroying confidence in the Post Office? Is my right hon. Friend aware that I received in London by the same post three first-class letters postmarked on three successive days in Surrey? I have the covers to show him it he wants to see them.
§ Mr. ChatawayThe Post Office is certainly not complacent about present performance. My hon. Friend will have seen that the users council, in a move which I greatly welcome, has started to conduct surveys into the Post Office's performance. These will be a very valuable addition to the means of measuring this. What is clear from that study and from the Post Office's own study is that the vast majority of first-class letters are delivered on the next working day.
§ Mr. ClarkThe Post Office may not be complacent, but I believe that the Minister is. He says that there is a very high next-day delivery record for first-class mail. In different parts of the country there is a great shortfall. Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that in parts of West Yorkshire the mail train from London is regularly over an hour late and the mail is usually two days late?
§ Mr. ChatawayObviously the Post Office will consider any difficulties that the hon. Gentleman cares to raise with it. On the longer train hauls there is bound to be a less satisfactory performance than on the shorter ones.