44. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the substantial surplus disclosed by the Postmaster-General in the year's working of the Post Office, steps will now be taken to devote some part of this surplus to the reduction of postal, telegraph and telephone charges, with special reference to the 30 per cent. surcharge on telephone accounts.
§ Mr. BurkeThe surplus for the current year is expected to be substantially below that for 1946–47, and my right hon. Friend does not think that the time is ripe for him to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion.
Mr. De la BèreIs the Minister aware that this matter cannot be lightly dismissed, indeed, that it cannot be dismissed at all? Is he aware that the British public are today being asked to pay very excessive sums for the services which they receive and that something should be done about it without any equivocation or evasion or attempt to get out of what is obviously a just and right thing to do?
§ Mr. BurkeI am sure that my hon. Friend would regard it as most unsatisfactory to consider the surplus in one year without considering the possibility of it not being recurrent.