Hansard

Written Answers

Volume 388: debated on Wednesday 15 February 1978

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Written Answers

The Post Office: Mechanised Letter Sorting

Lord GARDINER

asked Her Majesty's Government:In which cities or areas of the country the post-code enables letters to be machine-sorted.

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

The programme for letter mechanisation is a matter for the Post Office, but I understand that there are now 18 fully operational mechanised letter sorting offices. These are:

AberdeenLondon WCDO
BrightonNewport
CambridgeNorwich
CardiffPreston
CroydonRedhill
DoncasterSheffield
GuildfordSouthampton
HuddersfieldStoke
London ECDOYork
The Post Office tells me that a further 10 mechanised offices are now being equipped and are due to become operational by the end of this year. These are:

BristolLiverpool
CoventryLondon—Mount Pleasant
DartfordManchester
DerbyPortsmouth
LeedsRomford

By then about 35 per cent. of posted mail will be handled at letter sorting offices equipped with machines. The letter mechanisation programme should be completed by 1983.

Sunken Trawler: Rathlin Island, Co Antrim

Lord DUNLEATH

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whose responsibility it is to stem the emergence of oil from a sunken trawler off the coast of Rathlin Island, Co. Antrim, and what action they propose to take to prevent a further increase in size of the resultant oil slick which has already cost the lives of many thousands of sea birds.

Lord ORAM

The primary responsibility for stopping the pollution from this sunken vessel rests with its owner. Following a survey to determine how best to proceed, the Department of Trade, by agreement with him, will put remedial measures in hand, in order to protect the public and wildlife interests.

Aviation Security Precautions

Lord HYLTON

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which foreign States have in the past five years

  • (a) harboured fugitive terrorists or hijackers, without extraditing or bringing them to trial;
  • (b) allowed terrorists to be trained on their territory;
  • (c) failed to arrange adequate security precautions at airports and other places of entry;

    • and whether any of the above States have recently announced changes of policy on these matters.

    Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

    Comprehensive and detailed information of this kind is impossible to obtain. The Government have, however, taken steps to promote aviation security worldwide. We have ratified The Hague, Tokyo and Montreal Conventions concerned with aviation security and have consistently urged other Governments to do so. British Missions abroad have instructions to concert with British airlines and, where necessary, to seek specific improvements in airport security. The Department of Trade are willing to provide advice on airport security to foreign Governments that ask for it. In the United Kingdom we keep our airport security measures under continuous review.House adjourned at eleven minutes before seven o'clock.