HL Deb 30 January 1969 vol 298 cc1277-9

3.10 p.m.

VISCOUNT MASSEREENE AND FERRARD

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the reason for the number of incorrect postal deliveries, particularly in the London area.]

LORD BOWLES

My Lords, I am sure the noble Viscount will understand that some mistakes in delivering about 35 million letters daily to 18 million households throughout the United Kingdom are inevitable. The task of our postmen is sometimes hindered by poorly written or inadequate postal addresses, and some premises are not numbered. I do not know that the position is worse in London than elsewhere, but if the noble Viscount has in mind any particular trouble spots and will let me have details, my right honourable friend will be glad to look into the matter.

VISCOUNT MASSEREENE AND FERRARD

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that Answer. May I ask whether he is aware that at my address in London for the last three months I have been receiving on an average two incorrectly delivered letters every week—something that never used to happen? May I ask the noble Lord whether he will ensure that the postal authorities, when they engage postmen, will ascertain first of all that they can read English?

LORD BOWLES

My Lords, I think that that remark is rather insulting. The noble Lord has not told the Postmaster General anything about these complaints which he is raising for the first time, and I think that that is a mistake sometimes made too often in this House. I understand that the noble Viscount keeps sheep. Supposing the noble Viscount had a flock of 350,000 sheep and one went astray, would he think that very had?—because that is the comparative figure.

VISCOUNT MASSEREENE AND FERRARD

My Lords, may I tell the noble Lord—is he aware that if one sheep went astray—

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (LORD SHEPHERD)

My Lords, the noble Lord may ask a question, but I do not think he can put it in that way.

LORD HAWKE

My Lords, would the noble Lord address his question about sheep to the Bishops' Bench?

LORD ARCHIBALD

My Lords, would my noble friend accept the fact that many of us are very pleased indeed with the ingenuity of the postal delivery service in dealing with the incorrectly addressed letters that we get from our correspondents?

LORD BOWLES

My Lords, I was told of an address being put on the back of a stamp which was quite accurately delivered.

LORD INGLEWOOD

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the great majority of people in this country are full of admiration for the postmen and postwomen, even allowing for what is happening to-day? What they are unhappy about is the lack of direction from Her Majesty's Government.

LORD LEATHERLAND

My Lords, as one of the sheep who has never gone astray, may I ask my noble friend whether it is not the fact that the British postal service is now one of the best and cheapest in the world? Is he also aware that the postman's lot is not a particularly happy one, and that many of his deliveries have to be effected in the dark early hours of the morning? Does the noble Lord not think that if we indulge in too much nagging at the expense of the postman it will not be a very tactful thing to do at this moment?

LORD BOWLES

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for his kind remarks. I agree with everything that he has said. We have the best postal service in the world, and the cheapest.

LORD SWANSEA

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the weekly communication from the Whip which was posted by first-class mail last Thursday evening arrived at my house in London at midday yesterday?

LORD BOWLES

My Lords, that may be a reflection on the noble Lord's Whip.

LORD WILLIS

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the Government Whip arranges it much more quickly?