§ Mr. Nicholas Baker (Dorset, North)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Today is the latest in a succession of days when the Deliverer of the Vote has failed to deliver the Vote bundle to a number of right hon. and hon. Members. I wonder whether this is a matter which I ought to raise with you, Mr. Speaker. The Deliverer of the Vote has made the excuse that there is staff sickness. He seems to be unaware of the inadequacies of the postal service. I am wondering whether something could be done to ensure that the Vote bundle is delivered promptly.
§ Mr. SpeakerI shall look into the matter while the Prime Minister is making her statement. If the hon. Gentleman will raise the matter again at the end of her statement, I shall deal with it.
§ Later——
§ Mr. SpeakerDoes the hon. Gentleman wish to make the point again, or may I deal with it straight away?
§ Mr. BakerI wish to apologise to you, Mr. Speaker, for not having given you notice of it. I do not expect an answer now, but I ask you to look into the matter.
This is the last of a large number of days on which many of us have received our parliamentary papers late. I am collecting the notes which the Deliverer issues. He says that staff sickness is the cause of the late delivery. I wonder whether alternative arrangements could be made. I wish to place on record the fact that sadly the post, which is the alternative method of getting the papers to many of us which he uses, is simply not up to it these days. It no longer delivers papers the day after posting. I should be grateful if arrangements could be made for prompt delivery of the papers.
§ Mr. SpeakerWhen the hon. Gentleman raised the matter earlier, I undertook to look into it, and I have done so. I understand that the standard of service provided by the Deliverer of the Vote in recent days has deteriorated somewhat.
I am informed that there has been sickness among the staff concerned which made it impossible to maintain the standard of service which is normally provided. It is expected that full service will be restored next week.
I regret the inconvenience that has been caused to the hon. Gentleman and to other hon. Members. I shall look again at what the hon. Gentleman has said about the bad service continuing over a longer period.