§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Postmaster-General (1) whether he is aware that the hon. Member for West Ham, North wrote to him on 27th December last drawing attention to the complaint by the Newham Chamber of Commerce of postal delays, and that by 4th February, 1969, the hon. Member had received no reply; and when a substantive reply may be expected additional to the interim apology for further delays contained in his Department's communication of the 20th January;
(2) why it took until 5th February, 1969, to reply to the letter of the hon. Member for West Ham, North, of 27th December, 1968, enclosing correspondence from the West Ham Chamber of Commerce about postal delays.
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Mr. StorehouseI would refer my hon. Friend to my Answer to his Question on 10th February. My hon. Friend's letter raised matters which required investigation. Moreover, my managerial staff in the postal service were under considerable pressure at the time because of the industrial action by the Union of Post Office Workers.—[Vol. 777, c.249.]