§ 69. Lieut-Colonel Bromley-Davenportasked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that parcels posted in the Knuts-ford area take two days to reach London, and sometimes never arrive at all; and what steps he proposes to take to improve the service.
§ Mr. HobsonMy right hon. Friend is not aware of delay to parcels for London posted in the Knutsford area, or that parcels from Knutsford have failed to reach their destination. If the hon. and gallant Member will let him have details of the delay and losses referred to, he will have inquiry made.
§ 70. Lieut-Colonel Bromley-Davenportasked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that telegrams sent from the House of Commons to a telephone address at 11.15 a.m. in the Chelsford relief area do 265W not reach their destination until 8.50 a.m. next morning; and what steps he proposes to take to improve the service.
§ Mr. HobsonMy right hon. Friend is sorry that the hon. Member should have cause to make this complaint about the telegraph service. His inquiries have failed to identify any recent telegrams bearing the times stated, but a telegram has been traced which was handed in at the House of Commons at 11.05 p.m. on 27th October, 1949, for an addressee at telephone number Chelford 51. This telegram was duly received at Manchester at 11.26 p.m. and an unsuccessful attempt was made to deliver the telegram that night by telephone to the new number—it had recently been changed to Chelford Relief 251. In view of the late hour, the telegram was held over and delivered by telephone early the next morning. My right hon. Friend much regrets any inconvenience arising from this unavoidable delay.
§ 71. Lieut-Colonel Bromley-Davenportasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the considerable delay in delivering letters to Bramhall residents, and that as a result their mail does not reach them until the afternoons; and whether in any event, he will make full inquiries into the whole position to see if it can be improved.
§ Mr. HobsonMy right hon. Friend very much regrets that the first delivery of letters at Bramhall has at times been seriously delayed because of difficulties in providing substitutes for postmen who have failed, without notice, to attend for duty through sickness and other causes. All practicable steps are being taken to improve matters.