HC Deb 14 December 1964 vol 704 cc29-30W
Dr. Bennett

asked the Postmaster-General why a letter posted in Titchfield in time to catch the 3.25 p.m. post on Sunday, 29th November addressed to Broadway, Worcester, was not delivered until Wednesday 2nd December; why letters posted in Worcester by 7 p.m. on Wednesdays addressed to Common Lane. Titchfield, are now delayed until Fridays before delivery; and why a parcel posted in Titchfield on 28th November last addressed to Worcester had not been delivered by 4th December.

Mr. Benn

I much regret that these delays should have occurred. I am inquiring into them and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Mr. Awdry

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that certain parcels delivered to Wiltshire from Gloucestershire take several days to arrive; and what action he will take to improve the Wiltshire postal services.

Mr. Joseph Slater

Parcels from Gloucestershire to Wiltshire should not take several days to arrive. If the hon. Member will let me have details of the delays to which he refers I will gladly look into the matter and see what can be done to improve the service.

Mr. Peter Griffiths

asked the Postmaster-General if he will inquire into the circumstances in which a letter posted on the morning of Wednesday, 2nd December and postmarked Bristol 1.30 p.m. was not delivered in London, N.3, until Saturday, 5th December; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Benn

This letter should have been delivered by first post on Thursday, the 3rd December and I am sorry that this did not happen. Full inquiries have been made but unfortunately it has not been possible to find out why the delay occurred.

Dr. Bennett

asked the Postmaster-General why a letter from the hon. Member for Gosport and Fareham, postmarked House of Commons, 26th November, 1964, was not delivered to its addressee in Drift Road, Fareham until 3rd December, having been postmarked further at 5 p.m. on that day in Fareham, as the cover now sent to him shows.

Mr. Benn

This letter should have been delivered to the addressee on 27th November and I am sorry this did not happen. The presence of a second postmark on the envelope suggests that the letter was first delivered to a wrong address in Fareham and subsequently re-posted: but I regret that my inquiries have failed to establish the precise circumstances in which this might have occurred.