§ 62. Sir CHARLES OMANasked the Postmaster-General what were the total net receipts, and the total sum spent on wages and salaries, of the Post Office in the financial years 1913–14 and 1920–21, respectively?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI have no information.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREHave not the United States adopted the opposite policy, in order to develop their trade?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI think there may be something in that, but it is a question whether it is better to do it by a concealed subsidy, or a frank and open Vote of the House in favour of propaganda.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs not the policy which has been adopted to be found in the old Book, which says, "He that scattereth increaseth."
§ 68. Mr. GILBERTasked the Postmaster-General what will be under the new Regulations the weights and rates of postage for letters, postcards, and printed matter to this country from France, Belgium, and Germany; if these rates have recently been increased in each country; and, if so, to what extent?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI will circulate the answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. GILBERTCan the right hon. Gentleman say if other countries propose to increase their rates in the same way as we are doing?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYOther countries are certainly increasing their rates, and I shall be glad to issue a statement showing the increase in our rates as compared with those of foreign countries.
§ Following is the reply promised:
§ Mr. KELLAWAYThe net revenue (including the value of free services to other Government Departments), and the corresponding expenditure on salaries and wages, for the years in question are as follows: 833
I have quoted the figures from the Commercial Accounts, because these alone give the proper comparative basis. To make up the total wages bill of the Post Office it would be necessary to add certain items amounting in all to £1,500,000 in 1913–14 and £4,400,000 in 1920–21, which are chargeable to capital or are recovered from the Savings Bank Fund. The figures for 1920–21 are approximate. They include about £27,000,000 for War bonus out of the total of £49,400,000.
— Revenue. Expenditure on salaries and wages. £ £ 1913–14 32,783,000 15,730,000 1920–21 58,178,000 45,000,000
§ Sir C. OMANHas the right hon. Gentleman seen the origin of his deficit in the contrast between 32 and 15, and between 38 and 45?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYYes; I have seen hardly anything else since I became Postmaster-General.
§ Sir C. OMANWould the right hon. Gentleman do something to make these proportions of salaries to accounts approach to what they were before the War?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYIn this particular branch of the work the Post Office is controlled by an arrangement which has been come to affecting the whole of the Civil Service. Under that arrangement War bonus is at present reviewed at a six-monthly interval. That undoubtedly gives an advantage to the Post Office staff and the rest of the Civil Service. But it has to be remembered that, while at present they have the benefit of that arrangement, they were far behind during the War period in keeping up with the rise of prices and the cost of living.
Sir F. HALLDoes the right hon. Gentleman think that his policy of "robbing Peter to pay Paul" is going to have the desired effect of making up this deficit?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI hope to pay Peter without robbing Paul.