HL Deb 07 June 1999 vol 601 cc126-7WA
Lord Dixon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What percentage of first class mail is delivered the following day. [HL2647]

Lord Simon of Highbury

I understand from the Post Office that the national percentages of mail delivered on the next working day for the period from 6 April 1998 to 28 March 1999 were as follows:

Overall Within local postcode area To neighbouring postcode area To distant areas
91.1% 94.5% 91.6% 86.7%

These figures are produced by independent all year round monitoring.

Royal Mail aims to deliver first class mail on the next working day after posting but this service has never guaranteed a next-day delivery. For a guaranteed service, Royal Mail offers a Special Delivery service which guarantees delivery by noon the next working day or customers are refunded their postage costs.

Lord Dixon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What percentage of first class mail from Newcastle sorting office is delivered the following day. [HL2648]

Lord Simon of Highbury

I understand from the Post Office that the percentages of mail from Newcastle delivered on the next working day for the period from 6 April 1998 to 28 March 1999 were as follows:

Overall Within Newcastle postcode area To neighbouring postcode areas To distant areas
90% 94% 93% 84%

These figures are produced by independent all year round monitoring.

Royal Mail aims to deliver first class mail on the next working day after posting but this service has never guaranteed a next-day delivery.

Lord Dixon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What percentage of first class mail from London is delivered the following day. [HL2649]

Lord Simon of Highbury

I understand from the Post Office that the percentages of mail from London delivered on the next working day for the period from 6 April 1998 to 28 March 1999 were as follows:

Overall Within London postcodes areas To neighbouring postcode areas To distant areas
87.3% 90.3% 88.3% 83.5%

These figures are produced by independent all year round monitoring.

Royal Mail aims to deliver first class mail on the next working day after posting but this service has never guaranteed a next-day delivery.