§ 12. Mr. Sydney Chapmanasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what payment was made to the Post Office for mail sent in official paid envelopes during the last 12 months; and what was the revenue derived from all mail during this period.
§ Sir J. EdenIn 1970–71 about £22 million and £295 million, respectively.
§ Mr. ChapmanI thank my right hon. Friend for those figures. Will he confirm that the amount of mail being sent through official paid envelopes is increasing rapidly? As the cost of the postal service to the consumer necessarily rises because it is a labour-intensiveservice that is provided, would it not be a good thing strictly to control the amount of mail allowed to be sent through official envelopes?
§ Sir J. EdenGovernment Departments, like everyone else, pay their postage bills 600 at the normal tariffs. Therefore, it is an important part of the Post Office's business. The question that my hon. Friend has asked is a matter for my hon. Friend the Minister to the Civil Service Department.
§ Mr. John HallDoes the figure mentioned by my right hon. Friend include the amount represented by the prepaid postal envelopes provided for Members of Parliament, many of which finish up in the waste paper basket?
§ Sir J. EdenIt includes Members' correspondence. I did not follow whether the correspondence went into the waste paper basket before Members had sent it or afterwards.