§ 76. Mr. PENNEFATHERasked the Postmaster-General if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the high postal charges in this country are inducing an increasing number of British firms to post their circulars in Germany and other countries, with the result that the British Post Office performs the work of distributing this postal matter without receiving any revenue whatever therefrom; and whether he will therefore reduce the inducement to post circulars abroad by reducing the postal rates in this country?
77. Captain TUDOR-REESasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware 1077 that, owing to the high cost of postage in this country, English firms are posting their trade circulars from Berlin and other places on the Continent to addresses in England and elsewhere; and whether he is able to state whether, and, if so, when, he will be able to reduce the existing postal rates?
§ 80 and 81. Mr. HANNONasked the Postmaster-General (1) whether he is aware that it is cheaper to send trade circulars in bulk to Germany for distribution from there by post to this country than to post them in England; how much of the difference in expense is due to the depreciation of the German exchange and how much to the lower postal rates prevailing in Germany;
(2) whether he is aware that a firm of seed specialists of St. Albans, Herts, have published a circular stating that the expense of printing and posting their annual price list in England exceeds the estimated cost of printing and posting in Germany by £12,000, principally on account of the high postage rates now prevailing in this country: whether he is aware that large numbers of firms are placing printing orders abroad so as to avoid the heavy postal charges at home, and that unemployment in the printing trade is thus increased; and whether, in view of these facts, he is prepared to recommend a reduction of postal rates in the coming financial year?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI am aware of the facts referred to. It is not the case that the cost of postage is the only or the principal factor which has led certain British firms to post their circulars in Germany and other European countries where the currency is depreciated. Postage rates in Germany have been increased from 16 to 24 times the pre-War charges, but the actual cost of postage payable by a sender in this country depends entirely on the rate of exchange. The question of a reduction of British postal charges is under consideration by the Government.
§ 82. Mr. HANNONasked the Postmaster-General whether he has received representations from various public bodies and trade organisations, including the Federation of British Industries and the Association of British Chambers of Commerce, urging upon him the serious 1078 effects upon the manufacturing and commercial enterprises of this country of the existing postal charges for letters, postcards, and printed matter; and whether, with a view to the encouragement of a revival of trade, he will take steps to bring an immediate reduction of those charges?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI have received numerous representations on this subject, and, as I have already stated, the question of the reduction of postal charges is under the present consideration of the Government.