§ Mr. Mathewasked the Postmaster-General what percentage of post offices have now adopted the all-purpose service; and if he will make a statement on the results of this innovation.
§ Miss PikeAbout 60 per cent. or 850 of the 1,450 Crown Post Offices which are currently scheduled for introduction of all-purpose service are now operating the system. Another 350 offices should have it by about the end of this month and the balance during the coming year in conjunction with reconstruction or modernisation schemes.
Where the system has been introduced the results are very encouraging. The quality of service has been improved, waiting time reduced and, generally, customers are showing that they prefer the new system to the old one.