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Pembrokeshire (Royal Mail Database)

The hon. Gentleman expresses the point extremely well. There is no excuse for us still to be discussing this issue in 2009—it should have been sorted out long ago. Another problem arises in the tourism sector. As I said, Pembrokeshire is well known for its outstanding natural beauty, and it attracts many tourists from across the United Kingdom, as well as from other countries. A significant number of tourism websites use the Royal Mail postal address file as their database. Therefore those websites still use the former county of Dyfed in their search facilities. Holidaymakers who use the websites and search for Pembrokeshire might not be able to find exactly what they are looking for. Perhaps they are unaware that Pembrokeshire was formerly part of Dyfed. If they do not readily find what they are looking for, they could, at worst, take their business elsewhere. That would be an injustice arising from an inaccuracy in the database that could easily be rectified. My constituent, Robert Smith, runs a bed and breakfast in Fishguard, which is a beautiful harbour town and home to an excellent ferry service to Rosslare in Ireland. Just a few weeks ago, he told me that many of the websites that he uses to advertise his holiday rental accommodation use the Royal Mail database and thus have Dyfed listed as the area. He argues that that is very confusing for potential customers, particularly those from overseas. He now does not even bother to advertise on some websites because he knows what confusion would be caused. Mr. Smith has been told that he can contact the companies operating the websites if he wishes the database to be changed, but how demeaning it is for Pembrokeshire people, or people from Ceredigion represented by the hon. Member for Ceredigion (Mark Williams), to have to take the time and trouble politely to ask large companies using the postal address file database to change the reference from Dyfed to Pembrokeshire. In 2009, we should not have to do that. Whether they concern civic and local pride or the costs and burdens on small Pembrokeshire businesses, the arguments for a change in the database are overwhelming. However, the response from Royal Mail has been disappointing so far. After writing to it on more than one occasion, I received a reply offering its position on the matter. It claims that its database is simply a set of routeing instructions, with the emphasis being on enabling Royal Mail to provide the most efficient service possible, rather than reflecting geographical location. It also claims that the county name does not form part of the postal address and is on the database only because external users of the database objected to its complete removal on the basis that that would make address matching more difficult. I understand Royal Mail's position, but I do not accept it. It may well be that, for Royal Mail alone, the main aim is to provide the most efficient postal service. However, by commercialising its database and selling it on at a profit for external companies to use for different purposes, Royal Mail places on itself a burden of responsibility. It is irresponsible and short-sighted for it not to accept responsibility for what third parties may do with the database. It has an overarching duty to act in the public interest. It should recognise the ways in which third parties may use the database and amend it accordingly to ensure that it reflects accurate place names in 2009. I recognise, as I said, that many significant problems and challenges face Royal Mail at present, and this is perhaps not one of the most pressing. However, it does not require a long, expensive solution. There is surely an easy fix that could quickly resolve the issues that we have been discussing. There is a precedent for action. I understand that in 2007, after a long struggle, Royal Mail agreed to create a postal county of Rutland. I strongly urge the Minister to encourage it to do the same in this regard and finally recognise the great county of Pembrokeshire on its database. The continued refusals to recognise Pembrokeshire can only do harm and cause more confusion. It is an easy thing to rectify, and rectifying it would yield great results. The Minister has a reputation for being a good Minister—I genuinely mean that. He could have a reputation, after today, for being a truly great Minister as far as the people of Pembrokeshire are concerned. Will he, on behalf of me and my constituents in Pembrokeshire, approach Royal Mail and help it to give us our county back?