§ Sir W. Bromley-Davenportasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that since the introduction of the two-tier postal system some postmen are themselves sorting out letters in pillar-boxes and putting back all the letters bearing 4d. stamps for collection at a later time; and whether he will take steps to forbid this practice forthwith.
§ Mr. G. Campbellasked the Postmaster-General what new direction he issued, 402W on 22nd October, following his discovery that second-class mail was being deliberately delayed; and if he will make a further statement.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Postmaster-General (1) whether he is aware that each morning at or around 10.30 a.m. the post office box in the village of Crowle, Lincolnshire, is emptied, the mail sorted and the 4d. letters put back again into the box for later sorting and delivery; to what extent this or similar practices are general; and what action he proposes to take to prevent this deliberate action to delay the delivery of mail;
(2) why, in view of his Department's recent statement that 4d. mail is not deliberately delayed, he issued a further instruction on Tuesday, 22nd October, that the practice should now cease; and whether he will give an assurance that 4d. mail which is available for collection, sorting and delivery, is not held up pending the collection, sorting and delivery of later posted 5d. mail.
§ Mr. StonehouseAs soon as my attention was drawn to the practice at Crowle I arranged for all local 4d. letters posted there to be collected at the same time as the rest of the local mail, and to be sorted and delivered by next post provided the speedy treatment of first class letters would not be jeopardised. I am not aware that the former Crowle practice is in force elsewhere.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the hon. Member for West Ham, North is experiencing delay in the delivery of his mail whereby 5d. letters posted in and addressed to London-area addresses are taking two and, in some instances, three days to be delivered; and whether he will restore the postal services to the same degree of efficiency as that pertaining prior to the introduction of the two-tier system.
§ Mr. StonehouseIn general, first class letters posted in London for London addresses are being delivered by the day after posting. I am not aware of the delays to which my hon. Friend refers, but if he will let me have details I shall be glad to look into them.
403W
§ Mr. StonehouseI have changed the instructions relating to locally posted second class letters, which were excluded from first delivery at the outset of the new service in order to safeguard delivery times for first class letters. These items can now be included in first deliveries.