§ Mr. Mitchisonasked the Assistant Postmaster-General the average delay at present between receipt of an application form for a withdrawal of over £3 from the Post Office Savings Bank and payment of the amount to the depositor; what is the average delay in answering inquiries by depositors as to the reasons for delay in effecting a withdrawal applied for; and why no reply or remittance has yet been sent to the depositor in the case to which, by letter of 16th April, 1946, the hon. Member for Kettering directed his attention.
§ Mr. Burke:Application for withdrawals over £3 are in general dealt with within three or four days of receipt of the appli- 494W cation, though occasional cases may arise in which by error or because of special difficulties longer time is taken. Inquiries by depositors relative to withdrawal applications are in ordinary course answered within a day or two.
I regret that there was delay in the case to which the hon. Member drew my attention in his letter of 16th April. Payment was authorised by telegraph on 13th April. I am arranging for one of my officials to see the depositor so as to ensure the payment to her of the sum she requires. I will write to the hon. Member when inquiries into the cause of the delay have been completed.