§ MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that parcels sent by parcel post, from this country to Germany and Denmark cost for carriage 2s., whilst similar parcels from Germany and Denmark to this country cost only 1s. 5d.; whether he is aware that from Switzerland, in the centre of Europe, a parcel to Norway costs 1s. 5d., whilst a similar parcel from this country to Norway costs 2s., or nearly 50 per cent. more; whether he is aware that a parcel from Switzerland to this country costs 1s. 10d., and vice versa 2s. 6d.; whether the latest agreement with Japan provides for a cost of 4s., where Germany only pays 2s. 7d.; whether he is aware that German postal rates for parcels to seventeen European countries are only half of the average cost from this country; and what steps, if any, he proposes to take in the matter.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The hon. Member's comparison of charges is misleading. There is in almost every case a triple scale of postage in force in this country for parcels sent abroad under which a light parcel costs less for 1061 postage than a heavy one. The comparisons given in the Question are correct so far as they go, but they are applicable only to heavy parcels, while in most cases the rates on light parcels compare very favourably with those on parcels of the same weight sent from the Continent to this country or to other destinations. Thus, to take some of the exchanges instanced, while light parcels, i.e., parcels not over three pounds, from this country to Germany and Denmark cost 1s., similar parcels from Germany and Denmark cost 1s. 5d.; a light parcel from this country to Norway costs 1s., but from Switzerland to Norway by the cheapest route 1s. 5d.; and on a light parcel sent from this country to Switzerland the postage is the same as in the reverse direction, namely, 1s. 6d. On the whole the triple scale of postage is not, I think, disadvantageous to the public in this country. As I have told the hon. Member, in answer to another Question, I have for some time been considering what improvements can be effected.