§ 4. Dr. Stuttafordasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what is now the percentage coverage of the country for postal codes.
§ Sir J. EdenThe Post Office tells me that codes have now been allocated to nearly 90 per cent. of all addresses in the country.
§ Dr. StuttafordIs my right hon. Friend aware that, although we wish him well in the spread of his codal system, unpleasant though it may be, in the Norwich area there has been great resentment at the suggestion of one of his officials that letters will be deliberately held up if they are without a code? We were under the impression that the stamp was what determined how fast the post went through and not whether there was a code on the envelope.
§ Sir J. EdenI am grateful to my hon. Friend for wishing me well. He must, however, realise that the codal system is that of the Post Office and not the Department. The way in which this is operated and the speed with which it is being introduced is the responsibility of the Post Office.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisDoes not the Minister recall that one of the justifications for the postal coding system when it was introduced was that it would facilitate the automatic sorting of letters? Is the Minister aware that in the weeks ahead millions of people will be frantically searching for postal codes for their Christmas cards and that there are still only 13 sorting offices capable of sorting these letters automatically?
§ Sir J. EdenThe hon. Gentleman is right in saying that the advanced machines capable of dealing with these postal codes have been installed at 13 offices. At least a further five offices will receive them within the next year. I 982 am assured by the Post Office that public acceptance of these codes is coming along nicely.
§ Sir J. EdenNo, Sir.