§ 27. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will give an assurance that before agreeing to a further increase in postal charges he will give a general direction to the Post Office Corporation that it should cease expenditure on advertisements calling for people to support a monopoly service and make a general improvement in the postal collection and delivery services.
§ Mr. StonehouseNo, Sir.
§ Mr. LewisI thank the Minister for that very fulsome reply. Can he give me any kind of logical reason why he says "No, Sir"? Is it right that money should be wasted on advertisements when we are told that postal charges will rise again? What is the point of wasting money?
§ Mr. StonehouseMy hon. Friend distinguished himself during the passing of the Post Office Act which set up the corporation, and he and the House well remember that the purpose of the Act was to allow the Post Office Corporation commercial independence. I should be defeating that purpose if I gave a general direction of the character that is being suggested.
§ Mr. BryanWhen the inevitable increase in charges is proposed, will it be examined by the Prices and Incomes Board, and will a full report be published, as was the case in March, 1968?
§ Mr. StonehouseThe hon. Member knows very well that we on this side are too long in the tooth to fall for a hypothetical question of that sort.