§ Lord KENNETasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they can furnish statistics indicating the average time for the delivery of letters (a) within London: and (b) between, for instance, London and Paris, in, say, 1930, 1950 and 1970 or other convenient dates.
§ Lord BESWICKThe statistical information is not available in the form requested. However the Post Office tells me that since 1968 first class letters have normally been delivered within London on the first working day after posting and second class letters on the second working day after posting. For 1974–75, on a national basis, 89 per cent, of first class letters and 84 per cent, of second class letters were delivered within these standards and the Post Office is confident that the performance achieved in London broadly matches that achieved nationally. 187WA Letters posted in London for delivery in Paris should be delivered from one to two working days after posting though, of course, delivery within France is the responsibility of the French postal authorities.