Postal and Money Orders

HC Deb 27 March 1957 vol 567 c1127

24. Mr. Lipton

asked the Postmaster-General how far postal orders of higher value that £ 2 have reduced the demand for money orders.

Mr. K. Thompson

Since the introduction of the new postal orders, sales of money orders in the value bracket affected have fallen by about one quarter.

Mr. Lipton

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the pay of sub-postmasters depends upon the sale of money orders and that, if the sale of money orders drops, their pay is correspondingly reduced? What is he doing to recompense these miserably under-paid, but, nevertheless, very useful public servants?

Mr. Thompson

Our duty is primarily to the public, and if the service we offer in the new postal orders is convenient to the public, we must nevertheless accept that kind of difficulty. We are not unaware of the needs of those who run our sub-post offices.