Communist Leaflets
3.
asked the Postmaster-General how copies of Communist leaflets came to be inserted in a package delivered in Sevenoaks on Friday, 22nd December; and if he will take steps to prevent such occurrences in the future.
Detailed inquiry has failed to throw any light on this most regrettable happening, and there is no evidence to show that these leaflets were inserted by any Post Office employee.
Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that the leaflets demanded the immediate recall of troops from Korea and described the Prime Minister as having sold out British interests? Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that it reflects badly on the morale of his Department, and has he taken any steps to find out how many Communists there are in the Post Office?
As I said, a detailed examination has been made and there is no evidence to show that the leaflets were put in the envelope during the time it was in the charge of the Post Office. Apparently, no Post Office employee can be shown to be guilty of this occurrence.
This package was despatched from the Conservative Central Office and it cannot be suspected that it was subject to Communist interference there. Therefore, the only time during which the Communist leaflets could have been inserted was during transit through his Department.
No matter from what office the package was sent, I give the assurance to the House that so far as we can find out no Post Office employee was responsible for inserting the leaflets.
Festival Of Britain Stamps
4.
asked the Postmaster-General how many special commemorative stamps and at what values, are being issued in connection with the Festival of Britain.
Two special postage stamps of the 2½d. and 4d. denominations are being issued to commemorate the Festival of Britain. New designs of the permanent 2s. 6d., 5s., 10s. and £1 stamps will be put on sale at the same time.
As these stamps will have an advertising value throughout the world, will they be on sale at the earliest possible moment? If so, can my right hon. Friend say when that will be?
Yes, Sir. They will be on sale on 3rd May.
Telegrams (Rural Areas)
5.
asked the Postmaster-General why his Department accepts telegrams for rural addresses not connected to the telephone and then delivers them by post the following day.
Anyone handing in a telegram in the late afternoon is warned of the possibility of non-delivery that day. The telegram is accepted on this understanding and is delivered by post only if it reaches the distant end too late for delivery by hand.
Is the right hon. Gentleman sure that his Department does warn people that these telegrams will not be delivered if people are not on the telephone. I have evidence here that that is not so. Will the pre-war system of delivery be restored, and, if not, will the right hon. Gentleman see that instructions are issued that people are not charged 1s. 6d. for a message which could be delivered for 2½d.?
Adequate instructions have already been issued, but if the hon. Member knows of any case in which he believes these instructions have not been carried out, and will let me have the particulars, I will look into the matter. I have been pressed from both sides of the House to let sub-postmasters close offices much earlier and, on the other hand, to arrange for delivery of telegrams much later.
How many post offices or sub-post offices are there without facilities for delivering telegrams?
Most of them have facilities for delivering telegrams up to 6.30 p.m.
Press Telegrams (Delay)
7.
asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the dissatisfaction at the length of time it takes for communications to and from various parts of the Commonwealth; that the average time for the transmission of news messages on the first Test Match from Brisbane was over three hours and the second from Melbourne from four to six hours; and what efforts are being made to improve the services.
I would refer the hon. Member to my replies to the hon. Member for Ashford (Mr. Deedes) and the hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Hollis) on 24th January. The delays in news messages about Test matches were mainly due to the bad operating conditions with which the Australian authorities, in common with ourselves, were faced.
Can my right hon. Friend say whether understaffing and wage dissatisfaction is affecting the efficiency of a service that is vital in war and in peace?
The delay in this case was due entirely to atmospheric conditions in the Southern Hemisphere.
Can the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that this news was not delayed because its dangerous character was likely to lower the national morale?
So far as the Post Office is concerned, we delivered the news as soon as we received it.
Apart from the cricket scores, which are very important, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is also a rising number of complaints from commercial undertakings which are suffering most serious losses from these delays? All the evidence points to serious internal chaos in his Department as well as sun spots. Will the right hon. Gentleman find out what is wrong?
The Commonwealth Telecommunications Board is meeting today for the purpose of considering this question. It is really a matter for them, but when broadcast transmission is impossible for as much as 12 hours at a stretch it is bound to cause delays in reception at this end.
10.
asked the Postmaster-General in view of the delays in the transmission of news to and from Commonwealth countries, what steps he is taking to improve this service.
I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Hollis) on 24th January.
Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that, contrary to his earlier answer on this point, this service has now been taken over by his Department, and is, in fact, less efficient than when it was run by Cable and Wireless? What does he propose to do about it? Will he give Press messages some degree of priority?
The hon. Gentleman is quite wrong. If he had been in the House when the Cable and Wireless Bill was discussed, he would know of certain international considerations, which decided what terms should be applied to describe this company. It has been split up in many ways. Various Colonies and Dominions have taken their share and I am responsible only for the part at this end. In view of the enormous increase in traffic which there has been I am unable to trace any decrease in efficiency.
Does the right hon. Gentleman deny that the "part at this end" to which he referred has been nationalised?
I must appeal to the right hon. and gallant Gentleman opposite on this point. This matter was referred to before the debate on the Bill. Because of difficult negotiations in other parts of the world, it was decided that this should be an independent firm nominally under the Post Office, but that it should not be described in the way in which the hon. and gallant Gentleman has described it.
Can the right hon. Gentleman possibly deny that this service is nationalised, in the same way as other public corporations which are described as nationalised?
Various parts of this service have, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, been transferred to the Colonies and Dominions, but the part that is here is under our control and comes under the Post Office.
As the right hon. Gentleman does me the courtesy to ask me what I think, I can assure him that we consider this service to be a nationalised service, under his general control, and also recognise that it has been a complete failure.
I do not think that nationalisation comes into this Question.
Registered Letters
8.
asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider putting up notices in all post offices drawing the attention of the public to the regulations governing the registration of letters that registered letters should be sent in the official envelopes provided by the Post Office otherwise money compensation cannot be paid, and that only £5 can be claimed for the registration fee of 4d. in the event of a registered letter being lost.
Despite the wide publicity already given to these regulations I propose to act upon the suggestion of my hon. Friend.
Postmen (Recruitment)
12.
asked the Postmaster-General what are the normal avenues of recruitment of permanent and temporary postmen. Respectively; and what steps are taken in each case to establish the probity of candidates.
Permanent and temporary postmen are normally recruited through the Ministry of Labour and National Service. References are required from each candidate and are taken up by the Post Office.
Is not it a fact that at least during the Christmas rush temporary postmen are engaged without references? Does the right hon. Gentleman regard that as being satisfactory?
The difficulty of getting personnel for the Christmas rush is very great indeed. We take what we can get and apply such checks as we can in the time available to us.
Has the Postmaster-General any reason to doubt the efficiency of the method of recruitment or the honesty of the people who serve in the Post Office?
I can see no alternative method of dealing with the problem.
Late Evening Collections
15.
asked the Postmaster-General if he is now able to announce the date upon which the 8 p.m. collection of letters in Eccles will be inaugurated.
The facility was introduced on Monday last.
20.
asked the Postmaster-General when late evening postal collections will be introduced into London.
Late evening collections will be introduced in the London postal area on 19th February provided unforeseen difficulties do not arise.
Radio Press Services
18.
asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of his decision to allow certain news agencies to operate multi-destination radio Press services, he is now satisfied that such a transfer of work is giving a satisfactory public service.
I have every reason to believe that the transfer has resulted in satisfactory service.
Is my right hon. Friend satisfied, in view of the worsening situation, that this arrangement is still
adequate?This is a facility which the Press require and, by and large, the fact that they want more of it indicates that it is going very well.
Officers (Retiring Age)
19.
asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that in spite of the worsening of the manpower position it is possible for his Departmental heads to refuse to grant to a healthy and efficient officer an extension of service after the normal retiring age of 60 and to deny any officer so treated the right of appeal to the Postmaster-General; and if he will make a statement on this matter.
The Post Office, following general Civil Service practice, retains fully fit and efficient officers who wish to stay after 60, provided retention is in the interests of the service. For all but the most senior grades the final decision is devolved on the regional directors or heads of Departments.
Does that mean that the man himself has no appeal to the Postmaster-General, and will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Post Office really wants men to stay on after the age of 60?
All employees of the Post Office have a right of appeal to the Postmaster-General in any circumstances. In many areas we certainly do want men to stay on. In other areas, where we have a surfeit, it causes dissatisfaction among the staff if staying on holds back promotion.
If such appeals are made to the Postmaster-General, will he deal with them personally or will they be dealt with by an underling?
They are seen either by myself or the Assistant Postmaster-General.
Air Mails
23.
asked the Postmaster-General at what rate does he pay British Overseas Airways Corporation for the carriage of air mail on long haul services.
The rates range from 143.16d. to 190.89d. per ton-mile.
Is the Postmaster-General aware that these rates compare unfavourably with those of other large air lines, such as the American air lines, and will he look into the matter? Why should he make a profit out of it?
I only want to say that I pay twice as much for the carriage of mail as is being paid for the carriage of freight or persons. In the circumstances, I think that I am giving a fair price for the service we get.
24.
asked the Postmaster-General what are the arrangements for conveyance of air mail parcels to European countries; and whether he is satisfied that the limited publicity given to this scheme is sufficient to inform the public of the facilities available.
Excepting Portugal, air parcel mails to European countries are forwarded by services of the British European Airways Corporation. All available means of publicity are employed to bring these facilities to the notice of the public.
Is my right hon. Friend aware that while these parcels can be handed in at any post office at rates which compare favourably with other freight charges—inclusive of Customs clearing charges and matters of that kind—the only advertisement is a very small notice in certain post offices? Should not there be better information given to the public generally and to business people in particular?
I had better make the facilities known to my hon. Friend. Ninety-seven thousand airmail leaflets dealing with this subject are sent to head post offices every month. Press notices and broadcasts are made, and chamber of commerce and Board of Trade journals throughout the country carry advertisements relating to this service.
Hms "Theseus" (Mail)
27.
asked the Postmaster-General why a cablegram handed in on board H.M.S. "Theseus" in an operational area on 15th December last was not delivered in Hill Head, Hampshire, until 29th December; and what was the longest period taken by prepaid mail from England to reach this ship.
Mr. Ness Edwards : The telegram was delayed in delivery because of an error in the address. Air mail normally takes four days for delivery to the British Fleet Mail Office in Tokyo. Surface mail normally takes about six weeks.
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the great dissatisfaction in this ship due to the very long delay of some weeks in the delivery of mail to the ship, and of the resentment felt by next-of-kin at having to put 6d. stamps on mail?
I am not aware of that. My responsibility is to get the mail to the British Fleet Mail Office at Tokyo. I do that within four days.
Would the Postmaster-General say what telegram facilities exist for communication with H.M. ships?
A new service is to be started on Monday, with a new cable code. I will send the hon. and gallant Gentleman a copy of that.