§ Mr. Howeasked the Postmaster-General what was the total revenue accruing to his Department in the last year for which figures are available as a result of expenditure on services provided by his Department, including poundage on postal orders, by pool betting firms whose head offices are on Merseyside and by the clients of such firms.
§ Mr. Joseph SlaterI reckon that receipts from postage and poundage in 1964–65 were about £7¼ million.
§ Mr. Howeasked the Postmaster-General how many complaints have been received by his Department during each year of the last three years for which figures are available from pool betting firms whose head offices are on Merseyside about the misdelivery and late delivery of mail.
§ Mr. Joseph SlaterComplains about misdelivery and late delivery of correspondence addressed to the firms concerned numbered:—
1963 … … … 45 1964 … … … 64 1965 … … … 31
§ Mr. Howeasked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the revenue accruing to his Department by reason of the activities of pool betting firms whose head offices are on Merseyside, of the importance to such firms and their clients of the prompt and accurate delivery of their own mail to themselves, and of recurrent complaints about misdelivery of such mail, he will appoint special supervisory and checking staff in Liverpool postal sorting offices to ensure more accurate sorting and delivery of such mail.
§ Mr. Joseph SlaterI much regret that despite all the checks and examinations made on correspondence for pool betting34W firms, both at Liverpool and at other offices throughout the country, a very small proportion still is misdelivered. As the hon. Member knows, my right hon. Friend recently arranged for a special check on some correspondence. We would not be justified in making further checks.