Mr. Lucasasked the Postmaster-General why a letter posted in the High Road, Chiswick, W.4, on a recent Sunday morning did not reach an address in Richmond, Surrey, until the following Monday afternoon; whether he is aware that letters posted in Chiswick, W.4, by the 7.30 and 8.30 p.m. post are not always distributed in central London districts by the first delivery the next morning; and whether he will make a statement on the time taken to deliver letters posted in Brentford and Chiswick to adjacent postal areas.
Dr. HillThe letter should have been delivered by first post on Monday, and if my hon. Friend will let me have further details I shall be glad to have inquiry made. Fully-paid letters posted in Chiswick and Brentford for the 7.30 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. collections should be delivered by first post next morning in London and other adjacent postal areas; but owing to staff shortages there are delays from time to time which we are doing all we can to eliminate.