HC Deb 16 July 1973 vol 860 cc5-7
6. Mr. Sydney Chapman

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what is the latest estimate of the proportion of letter mail sent second class, and what proportion of this arrives within two days of posting.

10. Mr. Molloy

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what are the latest figures he has for the average time taken to deliver second-class mail.

17. Dame Irene Ward

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what is his latest estimate of the proportion of first-class mail which is delivered the following morning.

Sir J. Eden

The latest Post Office figures show that about 92 per cent. of first-class letters are delivered on the next working day after posting and about 88 per cent. of second-class by the second working day. About 56 per cent. of inland letters are sent second class.

Mr. Chapman

As the proportion of mail sent second class is likely to increase if the costs of postal services rise, will my right hon. Friend confirm that it is the duty of the Post Office to see that mail is delivered as soon as possible and that it should be an exceptional case if second-class mail does not arrive within 48 hours of being posted?

Sir J. Eden

I am sure that the Post Office would only too readily endorse the objective set out by my hon. Friend, namely, that it is the aim to deliver all letters by the first possible available post the following day.

Mr. Ewing

One of the great difficulties the Post Office has is in recruiting staff because of the deplorably low wages paid to postmen. In order to overcome this difficulty it is necessary to set aside a proportion of the mail—that being second-class mail—in order that it can be handled when staff are available—usually during the evening.

Sir J. Eden

The point raised by the hon. Member is a matter of certain representations by the unions concerned to the management of the Post Office.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the standard of delivery of first-class mail between this House and other addresses in London is getting worse? If the excuse used by the Post Office is shortage of labour, what will my right hon. Friend do to make certain that in the London postal region the union concerned withdraws its restrictive practice on the employment of women?

Sir J. Eden

I shall certainly bring to the attention of the Post Office Corporation the points that have been mentioned by my hon. Friend. As he will recognise, the Hardman Committee recommended more flexible manning practices.

Mr. Ronald King Murray

The right hon. Gentleman said that 92 per cent. of first-class mail was delivered the following day. What percentage of the balance is delivered the same day? I have in my hand a letter that was posted in my constituency at 9.30 this morning and delivered through my letter box, in the same constituency, at 11 a.m. Will the right hon. Gentleman offer my congratulations to the Post Office for that?

Sir J. Eden

The figure I gave was the main one, referring to the speed of delivery of first-class mail. The 92 per cent. figure of successful deliveries implies that as many as 1.1 million first-class letters are not delivered by the day after posting, but although that represents a large number of letters it must be related to the substantial total number of letters handled by the Post Office.

Sir John Tilney

Sainsbury's prospectus urged that all applications should be posted by first-class mail and allowed two days to arrive. Is it not difficult for provincial business to operate in that way?

Sir J. Eden

I can only repeat that every effort is being made by the Post Office to ensure an efficient delivery system. Obviously there are areas where this is more difficult, and I know that that is something that the Post Office management will be discussing actively with the unions. Certain references have already been made by the Government to the Post Office Users' National Council for a close examination of the complete structure of the postal services.

Mr. George Cunningham

Would not the chances of a quick delivery in future be greatly increased if the Post Office would go over to a postal code that people could understand and, therefore, remember? Will the Minister not bring home to the Post Office the many criticisms that have been voiced in this House about the difficulty of remembering the present code?

Sir J. Eden

The Post Office is publishing booklets containing the postal codes. The point about a postal code is that it should give as much information as possible, in as simplified a form as possible, so that the machine can digest the information and speed delivery of the letter concerned.