HC Deb 26 January 1966 vol 723 cc73-4W
53. Sir E. Bullus

asked the Postmaster-General what was the volume of mail posted and delivered during the Christmas period; and how this compared with earlier years.

Mr. Joseph Slater

Some 1,040 million letters and cards were dealt with in the busy period from 13th December to 2nd January, an increase of about 0.4 per cent. over the previous year and an increase of 3.9 per cent. compared with Christmas 1963. It is estimated that the figures for packets and parcels were about 120 million and 22 million respectively, in total about the same as in 1964.

Dr. Bennett

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that a Christmas card postmarked House of Commons, 6th December, 1965, 5.15 p.m., was delivered to the addressee, the head of the coastguard service in Iceland, on 3rd January, 1966; whether he is satisfied that this is a proper rate of transit by air or surface mail; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Benn

If the postage paid on this Christmas card was at the printed paper rate it would have gone by surface route. In that event it would have reached Reykjavik on the 20th December, too late for Christmas delivery. If the Christmas card was posted at the letter rate it should have gone by air and arrived well in time for delivery before Christmas. If the hon. Gentleman will let me have these details, and also the full address to which the card was sent I shall be glad to make further inquiries.

Dr. Bennett

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that a letter posted in Monte Carlo and stamped at printed rate took from 17th December, 1965, to 17th January, 1966, before delivery to the hon. Member for Gosport and Fareham in London, after having been forwarded, postmark Fareham, 15th January from the address in Portchester to which it was directed; and what action he will take to speed up such deliveries.

Mr. Benn

I am writing to the hon. Gentleman about this matter with a view to making possible further inquiries into it.