§ 12. Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Postmaster-General if he will take steps to increase the computerisation of Post Office sorting by providing standard size envelopes already franked for 5d. and 4d. mail at the stamp cost of 5d. and 4d., respectively; and if he will estimate the annual demand for such envelopes and the cost to the Post Office of their introduction, allowing for the fall-off in the use of conventional stamps.
§ Mr. StonehouseThe majority of envelopes posted already conform to "Post Office Preferred" standards.
The production cost of envelopes is much greater than that of stamps and it would be quite uneconomic not to charge for the stationery.
§ Mr. RobertsDoes my right hon. Friend not feel that this cost-benefit equation is a bit over-simplified? Has he made allowance for the increased volume of letters, letters which are not now sent because a stamp is not available? Has he also allowed for the economies which would be achieved by a speeding-up of computerisation?
§ Mr. StonehouseI agree that demand would be very large if the envelopes were provided free, but I do not think that the Post Office should go into such an uneconomic activity. I am now examining ways in which the sale of stamps can be improved. This is the way to deal with the question.