HC Deb 16 May 1956 vol 552 cc1973-4
4. Mr. Grey

asked the Postmaster-General what reduction there has been in the number of people using the telegraph service since he made increased charges on the same; and what effect he estimates this will have on Post Office income during the present financial year, if the same rate of reduction of users continues.

Dr. Hill

Forty per cent. reduction in the number of inland telegrams. Income in the current year is estimated to be 10 per cent. higher than before the increase in charges.

Mr. Grey

What is the policy of the Government about this service? Is it Government policy to disband the telegraph service altogether? Was it the main purpose of the increased charges to persuade people not to use this service but to use the telephone instead?

Dr. Hill

The policy of the Government was to reduce the loss on the service. The hon. Gentleman may be interested to know that a survey is now being conducted, through the Social Survey organisation, to get to know more accurately the public wishes and needs in this matter.

7. Mr. Hobson

asked the Postmaster-General under what circumstances telegrams are sent by post.

Dr. Hill

Where delivery by first post is assured, cheap-rate overnight telegrams are sent part of the way by post as a matter of course. Full-rate telegrams are only transferred to the postal service when they arrive outside the normal hours of telegraph delivery, when disposal by telephone is not possible and when no delay is likely to be involved.

Mr. Hobson

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that reply. Will he, first make it known at all offices what is the latest time that telegrams can be delivered? Secondly, does he not think that the time has now come for the setting up of a working party to review the whole of the telegraph service with a view to the possibility of its curtailment now that letters can be delivered to all the leading towns in Britain in one day?

Dr. Hill

As to the first point, I think that the hours of delivery are generally known, but I will look into that matter. On the second point, the hon Gentleman will recall the Answer which I have just given to the hon. Member for Durham (Mr. Grey) about the form of investigation into the telegraph service which is now beginning.