HL Deb 28 October 1971 vol 324 cc844-5
LORD SEGAL

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether existing postal charges to West European countries are likely to be still further increased as a result of this country's joining the Common Market.]

LORD DENHAM

No my Lords.

LORD SEGAL

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether there is not a probability that postal charges from this country to other Common Market countries may eventually become lower than our own inland postal charges?

LORD DENHAM

Yes, my Lords; there is that possibility. But the question whether the charges should be raised or lowered is a matter for the Post Office in this country.

LORD SHINWELL

My Lords, the noble Lord's answer to the noble Lord, Lord Segal, was"No."How does he know? Who told him?

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, the question was "Is it likely? "My answer was: "No; it is not likely. "And I was informed by the Ministry for which I speak.

LORD SEGAL

My Lords, although I am determined to vote later on this evening for entry into the Common Market, may I ask whether there is not a risk that British firms may find it cheaper to circularise their customers by posting their circulars in the post offices of Common Market countries, which would have the effect of an appreciable loss to our own Post Office revenue?

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, I do not think the firms concerned would find it cheaper, because under Section 12(3) of the Post Office Overseas Letter Post Scheme 1971 incoming postal packets addressed to people in this country which were posted abroad by or on behalf of people resident or with firms in this country can either be returned to the source whence they come, or can have a surcharge imposed on them, which can be up to the full first-class letter rate.

LORD SEGAL

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether this practice has not already been followed to a considerable extent by American firms with offices in this country, who circularise their customers on a very large scale from post offices in Holland?

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, where this is discovered the surcharge is imposed.