HL Deb 19 May 1988 vol 497 cc423-4

Lord Boyd-Carpenter asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many strikes and how many other cases of industrial disruption have occurred in the postal services in the current year; and how many occurred in the same period in 1987.

The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Lord Young of Graffham)

My Lords, disruption to postal services from industrial disputes is primarily a matter for the Post Office board and I have asked the chairman of the Post Office to write to my noble friend. However, I understand that in the first quarter of the current year, 52 strikes and 13 other disputes occurred. This compares with 26 strikes and nine other disputes in the first quarter of 1987.

Lord Boyd-Carpenter

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that Answer and fully accept that the constitutional implications of what he said are the responsibility of the Post Office. Is it not, however, the responsibility of the Government in the event of serious disruption taking place to consider taking action on suspending the Post Office's monopoly? How quickly can this be done if necessary?

Lord Young of Graffham

My Lords, the Government always have this matter under review. It must be of concern to all that in the years 1985, 1986 and 1987 some 64,000 to 65,000 man days were lost through industrial action. Only 1,300 days were lost at the beginning of the decade. I am sure the matter will be kept under constant review both by the chairman of the Post Office and by the Government. If the position continues to deteriorate we shall have to consider what to do then.

Baroness Ewart-Biggs

My Lords, is the Minister aware that the volume of letter traffic carried by the Post Office has increased by 25 per cent. over the past five years? In the light of that, does he agree with the statement made by the chairman of the Post Office Users' National Council that the substantial increase in mail volumes means that substantial investment in infrastructure and network will be needed in future years? Will the Minister say whether the Post Office tariffs have increased in relation to the retail prices index, and if so, by how much?

Lord Young of Graffham

My Lords, the Question before the House relates to industrial disputes. There can be no denying that the number of disputes has increased considerably during the course of this decade. It is also true that the Post Office has been reorganising its working practices and looking at methods both of new technology and new equipment in order to deliver the post. In terms of delivery of the post, in December 1987 88.5 per cent. of first-class post was delivered on the first working day after posting. That is not over the Post Office's target of 90 per cent.

Baroness Strange

My Lords, British Telecom is to reimburse people who for some reason or another do not have the services and facilities of a telephone. Can something be done for people who through wildcat strikes do not receive post for several days, as has happened?

Lord Young of Graffham

My Lords, in many ways wildcat strikes are hardly the responsibility of the Post Office board. The position with British Telecom is rather different. The Director General of Oftel has negotiated a very good arrangement with British Telecom which I am sure all would welcome. However, this is quite another matter.

Lord Ferrier

My Lords, can anything be done to persuade advertisers and commercial bodies to limit the amount of junk that they send, which goes straight into the waste-paper basket?

Lord Young of Graffham

My Lords, I heartily agree with my noble friend, but I suspect that it is that junk mail which keeps the Post Office going.