§ 61. Mr. WALTER BAKERasked the Postmaster-General whether he proposes to suspend the Post Office insurance system; and, if so, the reasons which have led him to make that decision?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part, the amount of new 3014 business during the past decade has been too small to warrant the continuance of the system. For fuller information, I would refer the hon. Member to the Second Report of the Select Committee on Estimates, which was published on the 19th of July last.
§ Mr. BAKERHas the Postmaster-General received an offer from an insurance company, and, if so, from what insurance company; and, if he proposes to consider any offers, will he leave the whole thing open to all insurance companies?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONSo far I have not had any offer.
§ Major PRICEIs not this one of the State enterprises which come into direct competition with private enterprise?
§ Mr. DAYIs not the reason for the very small amount of business that the Post Office have absolutely neglected this branch of the business?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONNo. The fact is that the business has always been very small from the start, and I think in the last 20 years—if I remember rightly, since 1906—only in one year has the mount of new insurances reached 500.
§ Mr. SHINWELLWill an opportunity be afforded to the House to discuss the matter before it is definitely decided to suspend operations?
§ Mr. A. V. ALEXANDERWill the right hon. Gentleman—
§ Mr. SPEAKERWe have only reached question 61, and it is now 20 minutes to Four.