HC Deb 26 October 1966 vol 734 cc991-2
8. Mr. Dance

asked the Postmaster-General what is the cost so far of the advertising campaign, "Someone somewhere would like a letter from you."

The Postmaster-General (Mr. Edward Short)

The campaign ran from May, 1963, to February, 1965, at a total cost of about £467,000.

Mr. Dance

That is satisfactory because it is not a very high figure, but is the Postmaster-General aware that there is general public feeling that it is outrageous that the Post Office should recently have increased its charges by between 30 and 50 per cent. to the general public when they themselves are being called upon—as we heard yesterday, it may be enforced—to endure a prices and wages freeze? What has the Postmaster-General to say to justify this?

Mr. Short

The supplementary question has nothing whatever to do with the Question. The campaign was started by the Conservative Government and ran for 18 months under them, and it has run for four months under the present Government.

Sir W. Bromley-Davenport

Despite the increased costs, does the advertisement warn the public that they will be lucky if their letters are delivered first post next morning and that some of them may take two days?

Mr. Short

More than 92 per cent. of the 35 million letters posted each day are delivered next morning.