Lord INGLEWOODMy 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 give a direction to the Post Office to ensure that where there is no Sunday collection of mail, Saturday collections will be timed to take place not earlier than 2.30 p.m.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY of STATE. DEPARTMENT of INDUSTRY (Lord Melchett)No. my Lords. I will, however, draw this suggestion to the attention of the Post Office which will be reviewing the effect of this service change after a year.
Lord INGLEWOODMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for half of that reply, may I ask him to impress on the Post Office that a collection from local letter boxes at 9 a.m. is next best to useless if the delivery of letters does not happen until later in the morning? In many rural areas I think it is the opinion of most of us that people deserve a rather better service than this. even in difficult times.
§ Lord MELCHETTMy Lords. I am sure that the Post Office will take note of what the noble Lord has said.
§ Lord BALFOUR of INCHRYEMy Lords, can the Minister say at what point administration of the Post Office for which the Post Office are responsible ceases and public interest for which the Government are responsible commences? This seems to me to be a matter of public interest in which the Government should take some part.
§ Lord MELCHETTMy Lords, regarding the Government's power to give a general direction, to which this Question refers, the words in the Act, at any rate. are not, " public interest " but, " national interest ". I think that the noble Lord would agree that the question of what time collections are made from rural post offices is probably not a matter which is in the national interest, although I accept. and I am sure that the Post Office accept, that it is of considerable importance to people living in those areas.
Lord CAMPBELL of CROYMy Lords, arising also from the Question and answers on this subject the other day. may I ask whether this is not a matter which is of great interest to everybody in the country, both private individuals and businesses? Can the noble Lord ask the Post Office whether they will consider the proposal that at least there should be some central collecting points where post can be delivered, can actually be posted. by the public, during the weekend?
§ Lord MELCHETTMy Lords, as the noble Lord will know, his noble friend Lady Young asked a similar Question last week, to which I replied last week. I said that I would ask the Post Office to write to the noble Baroness.
Lord HAWKEMy Lords, does not the great barrage of Questions about the Post Office show that it was a great mistake to disturb the existing arrangement whereby the Post Office was part of the Civil Service and had a great and proud tradition?
§ Lord MELCHETTMy Lords, that may be a point of view and it is not for me to argue one way or another. The fact is that the Act has passed through both Houses of Parliament, and we must live with the position as it is today.