HL Deb 14 July 1971 vol 322 cc345-7

2.46 p.m.

LORD FRASER OF LONSDALE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have now given further consideration to a special postal rate for Christmas cards.]

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, it is for the Post Office to consider this matter and I understand that it is doing so in consultation with the Post Office Users' National Council.

LORD FRASER OF LONSDALE

My Lords, will my noble friend tell the Minister concerned, and ask him to tell the Post Office, that this would be a very good way whereby the Post Office could give a little Christmas present to its many customers?

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, I do not think that for me to tell my right honourable friend and for my right honourable friend to tell the Post Office would be a proper means of communicating the noble Lord's wishes on this subject. But I have no doubt that the Post Office will get to know of the noble Lord's point.

LORD INGLEWOOD

My Lords, before my noble friend offers any advice of that sort to the Post Office, will he urge them, first, to ensure that letters bearing the normal 3p stamp reach their destination in this country the next day, which we were led to believe by noble Lords opposite when they were in power would in fact happen, but which very frequently does not?

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, that, also, is a matter for the Post Office and, I might say, a rather different matter from the Question on the Order Paper.

LORD AIREDALE

My Lords, does the Minister recall that in February, 1969, this House was informed at Question Time that the increase in the charge for Christmas cards from the old 3d. rate to the old 4d. rate had led to a reduction of 18 per cent. in the number of Christmas cards posted? If we are now to have a further 50 per cent. increase, from last year's old 4d. rate to this year's new 2½p rate, this will surely have a profound effect upon the number of Christmas cards posted and there will be a very considerable reduction.

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, these statistics are really a matter for the Post Office.

LORD SLATER

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that in 1969 postcards were sent in an open envelope, whereas they are now sent in a sealed envelope and are treated as first-class mail?

LORD DENHAM

My Lords. I am most grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Slater. One further point which I would make to the noble Lord, Lord Airedale, is that at the beginning of 1969 such matters were the responsibility of the then Minister, whereas under the Post Office Act they are now matters for the day-to-day running of the Post Office.

LORD AIREDALE

My Lords, since we have a Minister for Posts and Telecommunications, may we have some sort of guidance as to what are, and what are not, proper questions regarding the Post Office to be directed to Her Majesty's Government?

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, if the noble Lord would like to put down a Question, perhaps for Written Answer, I will certainly try to give him such a list.

LORD SEGAL

My Lords, can the noble Lord give the House an assurance that if a special postal rate is introduced for Christmas cards it will be in a downward and not in an upward direction?

LORD DENHAM

No, my Lords, I cannot give any assurance on this matter at all.