HC Deb 10 May 1972 vol 836 cc1292-3
4. Mr. Redmond

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will seek to amend the Post Office Act, 1969, to allow for pensioners and other similiar organisations to have a statutory right of representation on local Post Office advisory committees.

Sir J. Eden

No, Sir. The committees are voluntary and independent bodies, and it would not be appropriate for any particular organisation to have a statutory right of representation on them.

Mr. Redmond

While I accept to some extent what my right hon. Friend has said may I ask him in turn to accept that the major customer of the Post Office is the Department of Health and Social Security? Is he aware that when there is a proposal to close a sub-post office the old-age pensioners and others who are seriously affected by sudden changes in the places where they get their pensions and who are often put to great inconvenience are not consulted because the local Post Office advisory committees are almost entirely commercially composed? If the Minister cannot introduce legislation, could he drop a hint to the Post Office Users' National. Council that it should extend the representation on these committees?

Sir J. Eden

The Post Office exercises considerable care in the closing of sub-post offices. I am sure my hon. Friend will have been heartened by the views expressed on this subject the day before yesterday by the Managing Director of Posts. These are important issues. My hon. Friend would be well advised to suggest to old-age pensioner organisations that they can make their own approaches direct to the users' council concerned.

Mr. Carter-Jones

Would the right hon. Gentleman agree that his hon. Friend has made an extremely valid point? Is he aware that if he consults the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970, he will find that it is incumbent upon him to have such representation? Can we who have done some work in this area assure the Minister that these committees would be stronger and much more representative if he acted on the advice he has received from his hon. Friend?

Sir J. Eden

The original Question was concerned with the advisory committees which are non-statutory bodies. That is a matter for local choice. As for the statutory body, the Post Office Users' National Council, any organisation can make direct representations to it. There are no vacancies on the council at present.