§ 1. Mr. Onslowasked the Postmaster-General what increase or decrease in staff there was in the Department under his control in the period 16th October, 1964 to 15th October, 1965; and what increase or decrease he anticipates in the period up to 15th April, 1966.
§ The Postmaster-General (Mr. Anthony Wedgwood Benn)Increases of 11,500 and 5,500 respectively. These are increases of 3 per cent. and 1½ per cent.: during the period October, 1964 to October, 1965, the business turnover of the Post Office has increased by about 7 per cent., and a similar rate of increase is expected in the coming year.
§ Mr. OnslowCan the right hon. Gentleman tell the House why the first figure that he gave, 11,500, so much exceeds the forecast which he made last April of an increase of 6,500 during the calendar year? Can he also say how much of the increase is on the purely administrative side of Post Office duties?
§ Mr. BennOn the second part of the question, I should require notice. On the first part, at least part of the reason is that the recruitment campaign for postmen has been more successful than we then expected. We are a very fast-growing industry, and we shall need more people in the future.