§ 17. Mr. G. Campbellasked the Postmaster-General on what date the postal giro system is to be opened for public use.
§ 21. Mr. Ian Gilmourasked the Postmaster-General what is the intended date for the beginning of the National Giro.
§ Mr. Edward ShortI expect the service to open as planned in the autumn of 1968.
§ Mr. CampbellIs the Postmaster-General still insisting on a minimum transfer payment of 5s. in view of the huge number of amounts of less than 5s. which are now transmitted by the clumsy postal order service—over 200 million a year according to a reply of the Postmaster-General recently?
§ Mr. ShortThe hon. Gentleman has raised this on previous occasions and I made it quite clear that we are not wedded forevermore to the 5s. minimum. This was decided after very careful market research. I hope in some years' time that the other remittance services, money orders and postal orders, will be superseded entirely by this. When that point arrives we shall have to consider the 5s. minimum.
§ Mr. GilmourCan the right hon. Gentleman be rather more categoric about the date? My information is that it is unlikely to be met.
§ Mr. ShortThe hon. Gentleman's information is quite wrong. The giro will open as planned in the autumn of 1968.
§ Mr. DunnCan my right hon. Friend undertake a survey to discover the number of additional civil servants, in addition to the normal establishment, which will be required for this extension?
§ Mr. ShortI cannot offhand give the hon. Member the figures. It is a very considerable figure, but I will write to him.