§ LORD MANCROFTMy Lords, I beg to ask the question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will state the reasons for the recent increases in inland parcel post rates.]
§ The MINISTER of STATE for the COLONIES (The Earl of Listowel)My Lords, the recent increases in inland parcel post rates were made for two reasons: first, to restore approximate parity with railway parcel rates, as otherwise Post Office resources of man-power and accommodation would not have sufficed to handle efficiently the increased volume of business which would have been diverted from the railways to the postal service; and, secondly, to reduce the loss falling on the parcel post service. Compared with pre-war days, the present parcel post rates show an average increase of 47 per cent., whereas costs have increased by over 50 per cent.
§ LORD MANCROFTMy Lords, while thanking the noble Earl for his reply, may I ask whether, in view of the frequent exhortations by the Government on the subject of the profits of free enterprise, it would not have been more in keeping if these increases had been met out of the profit of some £30,000,000 which the Post Office expect to make this year? Further, does it not seem a poor advertisement for nationalization that the public have to pay not only when B.O.A.C. make a huge loss, but also, apparently, when the Post Office make a huge profit?
§ The Earl of LISTOWELI will certainly convey the noble Lord's comments to my right honourable friend.
§ 2.40 p.m.