§ Mr. Hobdenasked the Postmaster-General on how many occasions the Post Office Advisory Council has met in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement about the new Post Office Users' Council which has been established.
§ Mr. BennThe Post Office Advisory Council met on 14 occasions in the last 10 years; namely:
- 1964 none.
- 1963 one.
- 1962 one.
- 1961 none.
- 1960 two.
- 1959 two.
- 1958 two.
- 1957 two.
- 1956 one.
- 1955 three.
The Council was disbanded this year.
My intention is that the proposed Post Office Users' Council should serve the same purpose in the Post Office as the consultative or consumer councils in the major nationalised industries.
I have now approved the constitution for the new Council proposed to me on 23rd July by a preparatory conference of representatives from various national and local organisations. The Council's terms of reference will be: "To represent at national level the interests of the users of Post Office services; to ensure the existence of adequate consultative arrangements at local level; to receive proposals from the Postmaster-General; and, to make recommendations to him about the services." The Council will have an independent chairman and 32 members whose appointment will be governed by the constitution. I will announce their names later.