§ 29. Mr. Spriggsasked the Postmaster-General if he will give a detailed report of the business transacted at the St. Helens Post Office during the twelve months up to the latest convenient date; to what extent this represents an increase in postal, telephone, telegraph, and wireless licence business; and how many pensions are being dealt with there.
§ Miss PikeAs the full Answer contains a great many figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. Briefly, the position is that some classes of business including pensions have increased, some including telegraphs and wireless licences have decreased. The general level of business is a little below that of the previous year.
§ Following is the Answer:
505| II. —Postal Business (excluding Christmas period—see Statement III) | ||||||||
| Class of Business | Year ended 31st October | Increase or decrease | ||||||
| 1958 | 1959 | Number | Percentage | |||||
| LETTERS, PACKETS AND PARCELS | ||||||||
| (a) Posted | … | … | … | … | 12,734,267 | 12,565,658 | - 168,609 | - 1.3 |
| (b) Delivered | … | … | … | … | 12,463,346 | 13,053,453 | + 590,107 | + 4.7 |
| III.—Postal Business—Christmas Period (13th December-2nd January) only | |||||||||
| Class of Business | 1957 | 1958 | Increase or decrease | ||||||
| Number | Percentage | ||||||||
| LETTER OF PARCELS | |||||||||
| Posted | … | … | … | … | … | 1,612,598 | 1,634,364 | + 21,766 | + 1.3 |
| IV.—Telephone and Telegraph Business | |||||||
| Class of Business | Year ended 31st October | Increase or decrease | |||||
| 1958 | 1959 | Number | Percentage | ||||
| INLAND AND OVERSEAS TELEGRAMS | |||||||
| (a) Accepted* | … | … | … | 20,380 | 20,100 | - 280 | - 1.4 |
| (b) Delivered | … | … | … | 21,480 | 20,830 | - 650 | - 3.0 |
| TELEPHONE TRUNK CALLS | … | … | … | 556,297 | 615,833 | + 59,536 | + 10.7 |
| * These figures include all telegrams handled in the St. Helens Telegraph Instrument Room, and not only those accepted at the Head Office counter (shown in Statement I). |