HC Deb 27 October 1919 vol 120 cc321-2W
Mr. BENNETT

asked the Postmaster-General if, in view of the fact that the savings in Civil Service expenditure since the beginning of April have been largely counterbalanced by increases in the postal services due to the return to normal conditions, lie will consider the possibility of effecting economies in the rural postal service, notably by reducing the number of deliveries in small villages where three deliveries a day are in excess of the reasonable requirements of the inhabitants?

Mr. ILLINGWORTH

The suspension of the third delivery in rural districts was one of the restrictions of the postal service which it was necessary to impose in consequence of war conditions. Generally speaking, the third delivery has not been restored except in the outskirts of the large towns and in populous industrial districts. If the hon. Member will let me know of any village in which the number of deliveries is, in his opinion, in excess of tile reasonable requirements of the inhabitants, I will have the matter investigated at once.