§ 4. Mr. Ewingasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will give a general direction to the Post Office to ensure that the postal coding system operating in Great Britain is widely publicised in the other EEC countries.
§ Sir J. EdenThis is a matter for the Post Office, and a general direction would not be appropriate.
§ Mr. EwingIs the Minister aware that he is being unduly complacent on this point? Is he also aware that there have been serious difficulties in this country in getting consumers of Post Office services to use the postal coding system? There is a widely-held view in this country that the system should be scrapped altogether. Is it not therefore necessary for the Government to give a direction to the Post Office to make sure that European countries at least understand our postal coding system, otherwise there will be a serious breakdown which could then only be the responsibility of the Minister?
§ Sir J. EdenThe question underlines the importance of concentrating publicity in this country first, especially as internal mail constitutes about 95 per cent. of all mail delivered in this country.
Mr. Edward TaylorHas my right hon. Friend any indication of the percentage of people who use postal codes?
§ Sir J. EdenNo. I do not know whether that figure could be obtained. If it can I shall send it to my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. George CunninghamDoes the Minister agree that the present British postal code is the most unmemorable jumble of figures and letters that it is possible to devise? Will he have an informal word with the Post Office to try to get it to switch over to something more akin to what is used in Europe, which is more likely to encourage public use of it.
§ Sir J. EdenThe form of the postal code is a matter for the Post Office. It is its responsibility. It devised the system to ensure speedier delivery of mail. It is a system which, after very careful 868 study by Canada, is now being adopted by that country.