HL Deb 25 March 1969 vol 300 cc1139-40

2.38 p.m.

EARL FERRERS

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

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will ensure that all mail is postmarked with the date and the time, as well as the place, of posting.]

LORD BOWLES

My Lords, postmarks are impressed to cancel the postage stamps and to enable the Post Office to control the handling of mail. First-class letters posted in letter boxes hear impressions related to the date and time of collection. Times are omitted, however, during the Christmas period, and since 1922 they have not been shown on some printed papers and more recently on second-class mail. Bulk postings handed in at post offices hear a code or other impression instead of a date. These arrangements have proved satisfactory. My right honourable friend the Postmaster General has no cause to make any change.

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for his reply. May I ask whether he is aware that in some cases the stamps are franked, but without the date and without the time, which leaves it impossible for anyone to know when the letter was posted?

LORD BOWLES

My Lords, perhaps the noble Lord does not remember that there was a Post Office strike at the time this happened, which commenced on January 29 of this year. In the circumstances, the second-class mail was set aside so that the promised priority should be given to first-class mail.

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the strike is over and that I received yesterday four letters paid for with 5d. pre-paid stamps, which were not cancelled with either the date or time or place and had no franking on them whatsoever?

LORD BOWLES

My Lords, that was probably due to a mechanical failure. Perhaps I may tell the House that a noble Lord who is not a member of my Party told me—and I am quite prepared to give details after these questions—of a big business in the City of London, where 400 to 500 letters arrive every morning. A special check was made on these deliveries and no fault whatever was found with any of them.

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, how can the noble Lord claim that 94 per cent. of first-class mail arrives the day after posting, if on some occasions the date and the time are not mentioned on letters?

SEVERAL NOBLE LORDS: Answer!

LORD BOWLES

My Lords, I have answered that point already.

LORD STRATHCLYDE

My Lords, would the noble Lord consider that it was due to a mechanical failure that a letter with a 5d. stamp, posted to me at 7.30 one night, eleven miles away from my home, was delivered 60 hours afterwards?

LORD BOWLES

My Lords, if the noble Lord will kindly let me have that letter I will look into the point.

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