Mr. ERSKINEasked the Postmaster-General whether he will this year take 1162W such steps as may minimise the inconvenience to the public by tardy first-post delivery of letters in the London area round about Christmas time?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONMy hon. Friend can rest assured that every effort will be made to effect the delivery at the usual time, but delay as compared with normal delivery is scarcely avoidable during this period owing to the great increase in the volume of correspondence.
§ Rear-Admiral BEAMISHasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that postal delays last Christmas caused serious loss to small traders, and, in particular, to market gardeners, nurserymen and smallholders; and can he hold out hopes that the postal organisation will during the coming Christmas time prevent a recurrence?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI am aware that some inconvenience was caused by postal delays last Christmas. I propose to publish locally in each area the times before which correspondence for Christmas delivery should be posted, and special arrangements will be made which will, I hope, ensure that correspondence posted before those hours will be delivered on Christmas Day.