HC Deb 22 January 1840 vol 51 cc421-2
Sir Robert Peel

reminded the Chancellor of the Exchequer that he had promised to lay on the table of the House such information as he could relative to the late arrangement of the penny post. He wished to know from the right hon. Gentleman when it was likely that that information would be produced. He also wished to know, whether the result of the experiment of the fourpenny postage would be set forth, and whether the papers would contain the number of letters posted in London every day since the introduction of the penny system.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer

should be ready at all times to give the fullest information in his power upon the whole of the details of the experiments. With that view, before either of the experiments came into operation, directions were given at the Post-office, that for a given week, the number of letters posted throughout the country should be taken account of. Similar instructions were given when the fourpenny rate came into operation, and subsequently, again, when the penny rate was adopted. The return for the last had not yet been made, but he should be quite ready to lay on the table of the House at the present moment the return of the number of letters posted in a given week before the fourpenny rate was adopted, and also the return of the number of letters posted for a given week after the rate had come into operation. With regard to the other part of the right hon. Baronet's inquiry, he must say, that he doubted whether, at the present moment, he could afford any very accurate information as to the number of letters posted, and the amount of postage received day by day in the London district.

Sir Robert Peel

thought it would be desirable, that the House should know the result of the last week of the experiment of the fourpenny rate, as well as the result of the first week, because he was induced to believe, that the honeymoon of those experiments would not yield a very fair test of their average productiveness.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer

would be quite ready to furnish a return of the last week.