asked the Secretary of State for Industry if, in view of the delay in postal deliveries, he will further Government policy on equal opportunities for women by issuing a general direction to the Post Office requiring it to employ women on postal deliveries on an equal footing with men, and not, as at present, on a temporary basis or when vacancies exceed an agreed limit.

No. The Post Office tells me that it is already having talks with the Union of Post Office Workers on this matter.