§ 3. Mr. Stratton Millsasked the Postmaster General if he will make a statement on the National Board for Prices and Incomes Report on the Post Office.
§ 8. Mr. Costainasked the Postmaster General in what circumstances there is still a requirement that telephone rentals should be paid 15 months in advance.
§ 15. Mr. Joplingasked the Postmaster General if he will make a statement on the proposed increases in postal and telephone charges recommended in the Report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes.
§ 22. Sir Harmar Nichollsasked the Postmaster General if he will provide a reduced telephone rental for the elderly.
§ Mr. MasonI would refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement I made on 10th April.—[Vol. 762, c. 1373–1402.]
§ Mr. MillsWill the right hon. Gentleman confirm that a number of the increases which he announced in the House on 10th April were not considered in detail by the Prices and Incomes Board? Will he consider referring them to it for closer examination on these matters?
§ Mr. MasonIn view of the fact that there were 400 tariff changes, I do not think that it would have been possible for the Board to have examined them all. I do not believe, therefore, that any good would be served by going back on the matter.
§ Mr. JoplingWhat progress does the right hon. Gentleman expect to make to meet the criteria of the White Paper on Nationalised Industries, which suggested that there should be an 8 per cent. profit on the operations of the Post Office?
§ Mr. MasonIs the hon. Gentleman asking that there should be a bigger profit on the operations of the Post Office?
§ Mr. JoplingAn 8 per cent. profit was recommended.
§ Mr. MasonThe hon. Gentleman is wrong. On the postal side, our aim is to get a return of 2 per cent. on total expenditure. On the telephone communications side, our new aim is to get 8½ per cent. return on net assets.