§ I now turn to certain minor sources of revenue for this year. My noble Friend the Postmaster-General, in order to balance his accounts and also to assist me, has found it necessary to increase certain Post Office charges. Increasing costs mean that without some advance in charges the Commercial Accounts for next year would show a deficit. There will be increased charges for certain inland and overseas postal services, some increases in postal order poundages, as well as higher charges for certain telephone and telegraphic services. The details of all these, including the dates on which they will come into operation, will be found in the White Paper.
§ I need only say that no change is proposed in the 2½d. letter or the 6d. air letter. Further than the changes shown in the White Paper, it is the intention of the Postmaster-General, following the recent increase in railway freight rates, to raise inland parcel post rates. In all, these changes in the tariffs for Post Office services, apart from the parcel post rates, will bring in a cash revenue of £9,635,000 in the forthcoming year and in a full year they should produce about £13,800,000.