HC Deb 07 June 1972 vol 838 cc428-9
4. Mr. O'Halloran

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will make a statement on improvements in the efficiency of the two-tier postal service.

Sir J. Eden

I have made clear to the Post Office that it has my full support in any action that may be necessary to improve the reliability of the letter mails.

Mr. O'Halloran

I am grateful to the Minister for that reply. Is the present two-tier postal service more or less efficient than the system that it replaced? Has it proved worth while?

Sir J. Eden

The Post Office has always operated a two-tier system. What is proving worth while in this respect is that there is a degree of consumer choice and that letters marked out for first-class delivery are more likely by this means to be delivered in the next day's first post than by any other means.

Mr. Charles R. Morris

Is the Minister aware, however, that there have now been three national polls, paid for by the taxpayer, into the efficiency of the two-tier system and that the results of those polls produced figures varying from 83 per cent. to 92 per cent. efficiency in the delivery of first-class correspondence? Which of those polls does the Minister accept?

Sir J. Eden

To be honest, I am not terribly concerned about the polls. I am concerned only with improving results.

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