§ 2.50 p.m.
§ The Earl of KIMBERLEYMy 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 whether they will exert pressure on the Post Office to advertise where limited Sunday collections are made.
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, this is a matter for the Post Office which recently announced that it intends to do what the noble Lord wants.
§ The Earl of KIMBERLEYMy Lords, while thanking the Minister for that Answer, may I ask whether he could be a little more forthcoming and tell us if some of these facilities are available?—because nobody seems to know.
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, the Press notice of 4th May from the Post Office said that the Post Office is to extend its existing limited facilities for securing Monday delivery for first-class letters posted into sorting offices on Sunday evening, or early Monday morning, where this can be done without adding significantly to costs; that is, that the service is being extended and the new facility will be advertised in the region, or the Post Office area, where it is about to be introduced. I am certain that this will be a growing service which will be advertised locally.
§ The Earl of KIMBERLEYMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that answer. May I take it that the Post Office will publicise the location of these sorting offices so that the general public will find them?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords. I am certain that the publicity facilities of the Post Office will enable it to give publicity to the collections when they are available.