§ Mrs. Peacockasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will detail the percentage of first-class letters delivered on the day following posting and the percentage of second-class letters delivered within three days, in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. TrippierThe information requested is as follows:
First Class Letters* percentage Second Class Letters† percentage 1979–80 78.9 82.1 1980–81 86.4 92.3 1981–82‡ 84.3 91.7 1982–83║ 85.8 92.3 1983–84 87.4 93.3 * The average percentage of first class letters delivered on the working day following collection. † The average percentage of second class letters delivered by the third working day following collection. ‡ Performance in 1981–82 was adversely affected by rail strikes in January and February 1982. Excluding those months average performance for the year was 88 per cent. on first class letters and 93.3 per cent. on second class letters. ║ Performance in 1982–83 was adversely affected by rail strikes, particularly in July 1982. Excluding that month, average performance was 86.9 per cent. on first class letters and 92.6 per cent. on second class letters.