Theresa Villiers MP, for Chipping Barnet, experienced at first hand what is involved in delivering the post when she joined local postwoman, Claire Stainton, on her delivery round in York Road and other streets in New Barnet today. Theresa Villiers is one of a number of local MPs and MSPs being invited to go out with postmen and women to see the lengths Royal Mail goes to in order to deliver the post. The purpose of these visits is to give MPs and MSPs a unique insight into the challenges of delivering mail to every house and business in their constituency, six days a week. Mick Osborne, Royal Mail Delivery Manager, who briefed Theresa Villiers MP before she set off on her walk said: “We’re delighted that Theresa Villiers is taking the time to experience the everyday challenges faced by our delivery postmen and women. “The visit gave us the opportunity to show Theresa how we are modernising and transforming the organisation. We are investing in new sorting and delivery equipment as we respond to the changing nature of the modern postbag. We are delivering more parcels and fewer letters than ever before and the tools for the job need to reflect that.” Theresa Villiers MP said: “Postmen and women perform an incredibly important function in our communities, not just delivering letters and parcels, but being part of an institution in society that helps bind our community together.” “I wanted to get a real understanding of the work that goes into delivering the mail on a daily basis. There can be no better way of getting that insight than actually going out and helping a delivery postman on his rounds. I joined local postwoman, Claire Stainton, who has been delivering mail to customers in Barnet for more than 16 years.” “Like every MP, I’ve spent a lot of time delivering political leaflets and newsletters through letter-boxes over the years, so I can understand how hard our postmen work. Certainly my Chipping Barnet constituency is a tough one to deliver with steep hills for our postmen to climb with their heavy trolleys. I would like to thank Claire and all her colleagues at Royal Mail in Barnet for all the hard work they do in ensuring my constituents get their mail every day.” Royal Mail is currently reforming its operation, which means every part of the process from collecting, transporting, sorting and delivering the mail is being improved to increase efficiency.