HC Deb 19 January 1965 vol 705 cc16-7W
Mr. Gower

asked the Postmaster-General (1) if he is aware that difficulties, inconvenience and hardship are caused to businessmen, commercial travellers, representatives, and householders in general, resident in the village and parish of Pentyrch, in the county of Glamorgan, by the fact that delivery of letters cannot be ensured before 10 a.m.; whether he is aware that postal deliveries in and near Pentyrch have been recently as late as 12 noon; and what steps he will take to improve the present state of affairs;

(2) if he will give particulars of the reasons and difficulties which prevent postal deliveries in the area of Pentyrch, Glamorganshire, before 10 a.m.

Mr. Benn

It would not be practicable to finish the first delivery in rural areas such as Pentyrch as early at 10 a.m. without incurring disproportionate expense. But I am arranging for the delivery in this area to be made earlier than it has been and for it to be finished by 10 a.m. in the village of Pentyrch itself.

Mr. Gower

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the names of all the villages and parishes within 15 miles of Cardiff which are deemed by his Department to fall within the category of extended delivery areas; and if he will state in each case the approximate time of the earliest postal delivery and the average time of the earliest postal delivery during the past six months.

Mr. Benn

I am having the information assembled and will send it to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Mr. Gower

asked the Postmaster-General in how many postal areas in South Wales and in the county of Glamorgan respectively, the earliest postal deliveries are now later than in former years; and to what extent staff shortages have caused a deterioration in the services of his Department in this respect.

Mr. Benn

There are about a dozen post-town areas in South Wales, including eight in the county of Glamorgan, where the first delivery is not everywhere completed as early as it was some years ago. In only three of these areas, all of them outside Glamorgan, are staff shortages responsible for the later delivery. The possibility of improving times of delivery, where these have slipped back, is currently being examined.