§ 4.1 p.m.
§ LORD CARRINGTONMy Lords, I said earlier this afternoon that I would repeat a Statement which had been made in another place in reply to a private notice Question about the postal disputes. The Question was as follows:
"To ask the Postmaster General what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to secure the maintenance of postal services in view of the postal strike called to begin at midnight on Saturday." My right honourable friend the Postmaster General replied as follows:
"My right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and I have seen representatives of the Union of Post Office Workers this morning and put a proposal to them. The emergency committee of the Union is now considering this proposal."
§ EARL ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, we are all obliged to the noble Lord the Leader of the House for having made that Statement. The position as reported in the public Press and the broadcast News last night and this morning was very disturbing. The fact the Government have made a move of this kind will, I hope, help to make progress towards peace in this unfortunate dispute.
§ LORD CARRINGTONMy Lords, I am much obliged to the noble Earl. I think we all hope that this dispute will be settled satisfactorily.