HL Deb 05 July 1976 vol 372 cc1025-7

2.53 p.m.

The Earl of LAUDERDALE

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 have statistics to show how many Members of both Houses of Parliament have recently been exposed to undue delay in the delivery of officially-franked first-class mail despatched from the Houses of Parliament and who thus belong to the 7 per cent. of postal users admitted by the Post Office to suffer such inconvenience.

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY of STATE, DEPARTMENT of INDUSTRY (Lord Melchett)

No, my Lords. This is a matter for the Post Office, but I understand they do not keep statistics showing delays in delivery of first-class mail posted from the Houses of Parliament. I would expect the incidence of such delays to fall within the scope of the continuous sampling of deliveries on which the Post Office base their quality of service figures.

The Earl of LAUDERDALE

My Lords, in thanking the noble Lord for that expected reply, and not wishing to belabour the Government more than they can take in one afternoon, may I ask whether he considers that, in addition to other matters, I am also unique statistically because I now have a second example of a first-class franked envelope sent from the Houses of Parliament taking four days to reach me. Is the noble Lord aware that the noble Baroness sitting beside him has now admitted that another letter sent from her Department did not reach its destination at all? Is he aware that there are other cases of this kind? Are we to believe the Post Office when they say that only 7 per cent. of the letters are not delivered the following morning when posted first class? Are we to believe that?

Lord MELCHETT

My Lords, I am sure that the noble Earl is unique in many respects. It is of course a matter for him to decide whether or not he believes the figures given by the Post Office.

The Earl of LAUDERDALE

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that I do not believe them?

Lord PARGITER

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that my experience is precisely the opposite? Papers coming from the House—on one occasion at any rate—were franked at 6 a.m. and delivered to me before noon in Caterham.

Lord MELCHETT

My Lords, my experience accords with that of my noble friend; but I am sure that the Post Office are not showing any political bias in this matter.

Lord IRONSIDE

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that I sampled my mail last week, too, and that the performance varies from very bad indeed to very good indeed? Would he not agree therefore that there is no rhyme or reason to deliveries these days, despite the fact that theoretically we are supposed to have a first- and second-class mail service?

Lord MELCHETT

My Lords, as the noble Earl's Question on the Order Paper implied, the Post Office's quality of service figures show a considerable difference between first- and second-class mails, and show a continuing improvement in the quality of service so far as first-class mail is concerned.

Lord SLATER

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that the area head postmasters, the sub-post office postmasters and the postmen would be only too delighted to receive any representations that are made to them by noble Lords and Members of the other place? Is my noble friend aware that never has there been an organisation that has been subject to so much direct criticism and objection than that of the Post Office ever since it was founded?

Lord MELCHETT

Yes, my Lords; I think that what my noble friend says is true. While undoubtedly much of the criticism is justified, there is much criticism which could be directed to those people who address envelopes incorrectly. I think that the Post Office show great forbearance in failing to criticise the consumers.

The Earl of LAUDERDALE

My Lords, would the noble Lord be so kind —since I failed to get in touch with the managing director of the Post Office on this matter—to forward to the Post Office the envelope about which I am complaining, which is clearly addressed?

Lord MELCHETT

My Lords, I am always happy to do whatever I can to help noble Lords opposite in their relationship with the Post Office.

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