§ 86. Sir D. Rentonasked the Postmaster General, whether he will issue instructions to all post offices with a view to ensuring that, as soon as first class mail has been sorted, as much second class mail as possible will then be sorted immediately with a view to its delivery as quickly as possible.
§ Mr. StonehouseWe aim to sort second class mail immediately after first class mail wherever staff are available; but we must take care that it is not dispatched or delivered in a manner likely to jeopardise the service for first class letters or cause unnecessary expense.
§ 87. Sir C. Osborneasked the Postmaster General why he gave instructions that 4d. letters should be left behind in local post offices rather than be delivered on the first round; and, in view of the concern throughout the country at the inefficient way letters are delivered, what steps he is taking to improve the service.
§ Mr. StonehouseThe instruction to which the hon. Gentleman refers applied only to locally posted second class letters, which were excluded from first delivery at the outset to help safeguard delivery times for first class letters. We are now relaxing this as the new service settles down.
§ 88. Sir W. Bromley-Davenportasked the Postmaster General whether he will publish the specific instructions which have been given to Post Office sorting offices resulting in delays to letters bearing 4d. stamps; and whether, in view of the fact that the delays imposed cause dis-organisation in certain offices and that 346W the delays imposed are greater than necessary, he will revise his instructions at an early date.
§ Mr. StonehouseOur operating instructions which are lengthy and complex have been under continuous review since the service started and have been revised where necessary. I do not think any useful purpose would be served by publishing them.
As things have progressed we have been able to improve the service given to some second class mail.
§ 89. Mr. Roseasked the Postmaster General whether he will investigate delays in second-class mail in the Manchester area; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. StonehouseYes. There were some delays to second-class mail in the early stages of the new letter service; but as we gain experience we are adjusting working arrangements at Manchester to maintain service objectives.
§ 90. Mr. Roseasked the Postmaster-General what representations he has now received in favour of abandoning the two-tier system of mail.
§ Mr. StonehouseComparatively few. Most representations urge us to improve it rather than abandon it.
§ 91. Mr. Danceasked the Postmaster-General how much overtime has been worked by Post Office employees in the fortnight following the introduction of the two-tier postal service compared with the corresponding fortnight of 1967.
§ Mr. StonehouseI cannot, without considerable cost, give the information in the precise form requested but overtime in September, 1968 was about 3 per cent. greater than in September, 1967.
§ 92. Mr. Chichester-Clarkasked the Postmaster-General (1) what study he has made of the hardship caused to users within the United Kingdom, excluding the mainland of Great Britain, by the adoption of the two-tier letter posting system; and if he will make a statement;
(2) whether he will authorise the reintroduction of air transportation for all mail to Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. StonehouseBecause of the distance and sea journey the service for 347W second-class mail between the mainland and Northern Ireland is not as good as that given for second-class correspondence generally. I am reviewing the mail services to see whether the cost of air conveyance can be justified for some second-class letters, but I must remind the hon. Gentleman that not all letter mail was conveyed by air to Northern Ireland before 16th September.
§ 94. Mr. Kimballasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the fact that in smaller towns without a railway the postmaster sorts and puts 5d. letters in ordinary sacks and 4d. letters in sacks marked with green stripes and that the sacks with green markings are deliberately left in the nearest railway sorting office until next day; and if he will take steps to end this practice and the delay caused thereby to 4d. letters.
§ Mr. StonehouseThe instructions are that first class letters are given priority at all stages. Second class mail is scheduled for a slower service, designed to minimise handling costs, and may be held for sorting or dispatch on the following day. I see no reason to change this
§ 95. Mr. G. Campbellasked the Post master-General by what authority he has instructed Post Office officials to disregard Section 68 of the Post Office Act. 1953, and other relevant enactments, by deferring second-class mail while attempting to interpret and carry out instructions which they have received on the new two-tier system for letters.
Mr. StonhouseThe instructions to Post Office officials on the handling of second class letters are issued under the authority of the Inland Post Regulations, 1968, which are made under powers conferred by the Post Office Act, 1953.
By Section 58 of the Act (which is, I think, the Section to which the hon Member intends to refer), it is an offence for an officer of the Post Office, "contrary to his duty", wilfully to detain or delay a postal packet in course of transmission by post. An offence is not committed in carrying out instructions.
§ 96. Dame Irene Wardasked the Postmaster-General what percentage of the first-class mail is represented by postages from Government and local government sources respectively.
348W
§ Mr. Joseph SlaterAbout 10 per cent. from Government Departments. I am sorry, but figures in respect of local government sources are not available.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that since the introduction of the two tier postal service General Post Office stall have to leave 4d. letters in the sorting office which are available for delivery, take and deliver the 5d. mail, and on return work at overtime rates to come out again to deliver the 4d. mail which was ready for earlier delivery; and whether he wil stop this practice.
§ Mr. StonehouseThe position in the country generally is that many second class letters have been included in the first delivery since the new service began. We are adjusting the loads on the two deliveries and reducing our costs by including more second class letters in the first delivery where this does not prejudice the speedy delivery of first class letters.
The delivery arrangements in the London sub-districts, which my hon Friend may have in mind, have always been somewhat different from the national pattern; the position there is under current discussion with the Union of Post Office Workers.