HC Deb 20 November 1947 vol 444 cc222-4W
Mr. Cooper

asked the Post-master-General what are the number and qualifications of the members of the Post Office Advisory Council; how frequently does it meet; and whether its deliberations are available to the public, either by publication of an annual report or by publication of this information at more frequent intervals; to what extent are consumer interests represented; and what steps are taken to adopt proposals which might be made by members of the public for the improvement of Post Office services.

Mr. Wilfred Paling

I append a list of members of the Post Office Advisory Council showing their number and, necessarily much abridged, their qualifications, and interests. The Council meets eight or nine times a year, and, as its function is to advise me in my capacity as Post-master-General, reports of its proceedings are not published. Proposals for the improvement of Post Office services, whether received through members of the Advisory Council, from the public, or from the Post Office staff, receive full and careful consideration. Many of the proposals involve technical questions which are examined by the Post Office department concerned.

Following is the list

  • The Rt. Hon. Wilfred Paling, M.P.—Post-master General, and Chairman of the Council.
  • C. R. Hobson, Esq., M.P.—Assistant Post master General.
  • J. W. Bowen, Esq., C.B.E., J.P.—Formerly General Secretary of the Union of Post Office Workers; London County Councillor; Chairman, Ruskin College, Oxford.
  • John Cliff. Esq., D.L.—London County Councillor; formerly Chairman of the London County Council; member of London Passenger Transport Board; formerly Assistant General Secretary of Transport and General Workers Union.
  • F. A. Cobb, Esq., M.P.—Labour Member of Parliament for Elland; radio engineer and industrial manager.
  • M. T. Davies, Esq., J.P.—Formerly President of the National Farmers' Union; resident at Brecon.
  • J. M. Erskine, Esq., C.B.E., D.L., J.P.—General Manager Commercial Bank of Scotland; Chairman of Scottish Savings Committee; formerly Chairman Central Committee of Scottish Chambers of Commerce; resident in Edinburgh district.
  • Lady Megan Lloyd George, M.P.—Liberal Member of Parliament for Anglesey; Vice-President Liberal Party.
  • Sir Patrick Hannon, M.P.—Unionist Member of Parliament for Moseley; Vice-President Federation of British Industries and Birmingham Chamber of Commerce.
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  • Lieut.-Colonel G. R. Harding, D.S.O., M.B.E.—Civil engineer; formerly Chairman of Council of London Chamber of Commerce; member of Board of Governors of the Imperial Institute.
  • The Rt. Hon. Florence Horsbrugh, C.B.E., LL.D. (Edin.)—Formerly Conservative Member of Parliament for Dundee, and Parliamentary Secretary, Ministries of Health and Food; resident in Edinburgh.
  • G. J. Innes, Esq.—Chairman of the British Corporation Register of Shipping and Aircraft; resident in Glasgow district.
  • Lieut.-Colonel Sir John Laurie, Bt., T.D J.P.—Member of the London Stock Exchange; formerly Lord Mayor of London: one of 11.M. Lieuts., City of London.
  • M. K. MacMillan, Esq., M.P.—Labour Member of Parliament for Western Isles
  • Doctor J. J. Mallon, C.H., LL.D., J.P.-Warden of Toynbee Hall; Chairman People's Theatre; member of Assistance Board and National Trust.
  • Sir Ronald D. Ross, Bt., M.C., M.P.-Unionist Member of Parliament lot Londonderry; barrister.
  • The Hon. W. L. Runciman, O.B E., A.F.C.—Director of companies; formerly Director General of British Overseas Airways Corporation.
  • G. D. Shepherd. Esq., M.B.E., J P, F.C.A.—President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants; resident in Cardiff
  • Mrs. J. L. Stocks, B.Sc.—Principal of West-field College, University of London; deputy President of Workers' Education Association.
  • Major General The Rt. Hon. Sir Frederick Sykes, G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E., G.B.E., K.C.B., C.M.G—Formerly Chief of the Air Staff, Governor of Bombay, also Chairman of the Miners Welfare Commission.
  • G. W. Thomson, Esq.—Editor of the Draughtsman; Vice Chairman of the Trades Union Congress; President of the National Federation of Professional Workers.
  • The Lord Walkden.—House of Lords; formerly General Secretary of the Railway Clerks Association, Chairman of the General Council of Trades Union Congress and Labour Member of Parliament for South Bristol.