HC Deb 04 March 1924 vol 170 cc1199-200W
Sir C. OMAN

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will take steps to secure that the city of Oxford, a place of 60,000 souls, with an exceptionally large correspondence, should be granted a postal delivery later than four o'clock in the afternoon, and particularly should have a Saturday evening delivery, the interval between the last post on Saturday and the first post on Monday being now 40 hours?

Mr. HARTSHORN

The last of the four postal deliveries at Oxford is made at Approximately the same time as at provincial towns generally, including the very largest; and I can find no sufficient reason for treating Oxford exceptionally by granting a later delivery either throughout the week or on Saturdays.

Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHY

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the complaints made by merchants in Hull regarding the constant delays in postal deliveries, both in Hull itself and in other cities, to which Hull letters are sent; that parcels posted at Hull at 6.15 p.m. on one day are sometimes not delivered in London until 8.45 a.m. two days later; and that these delays are proving a hairier to trade expansion in Hull and surrounding towns; and what steps he intends to take in the matter?

Mr. HARTSHORN

I am not aware of any general complaint as to delay of postal packets posted at Hull for other towns; the arrangements are, however, being examined in detail to see whether any improvement is practicable. Individual cases of delay will be investigated if the envelopes are supplied to the postmaster of Hull. In connection with a recent re-arrangement of the postal services at Hull, there has been some delay in the commencement of the morning delivery. The delivery is now, however, in normal circumstances being commenced at approximately the proper time, and, as explained in my reply of the 21st of February to the hon. and gallant Member for North-West Kingston-upon-Hull (Lieut.-Colonel L. Ward), I hope some further improvements will very shortly be possible.

Mr. LUMLEY

asked the Postmaster-General if he has now been able to effect improvements in the postal deliveries in Hull; and, if so, what improvements?

Mr. HARTSHORN

The review of the services to which I referred in my reply of the 25th February to the hon. Member has not yet been completed.