HL Deb 28 October 1975 vol 365 cc141-3
Baroness BURTON of COVENTRY

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

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is correct that in this country the cost of sending Christmas cards abroad is 5p if the envelope is unsealed; and why such an arrangement is profitable for cards sent abroad but not for cards sent within the United Kingdom.

The MINISTER of STATE, DEPARTMENT of INDUSTRY (Lord Beswick)

Yes, my Lords. In accordance with Universal Postal Union regulations, unsealed greeting cards with not more than five words of conventional greeting may be sent abroad by the overseas printed papers service for which the postage rate at the first step is 5p. I understand from the Post Office that this rate is not profitable.

Baroness BURTON of COVENTRY

My Lords, am I to understand from the Minister's reply that the Post Office has to make an additional payment to fit in with the regulations governing such traffic? Secondly, may I ask him whether he can give a plain answer to a plain question? Is he aware that on 16th October Sir William Ryland said that he was required by Statute to make a profit? Does the Minister himself really believe that the Post Office considers that its revenue will be greater from Christmas cards if the stamps remain at 6½p, than if they make a reduction?

Lord BESWICK

My Lords, in trying to give a straight answer to the straight question posed by the noble Baroness, I cannot quote the Act, but I think it said something about making the Post Office profitable taking one year with another. I hope that that is straight enough. On the third point of the question, the fact is that there is a difference of opinion as between her and me and the Post Office.

Baroness BURTON of COVENTRY

My Lords, I am sure it was not intentional, but the Minister has not answered my question. I asked him whether in his opinion the Post Office really believe—it must believe something—that the revenue would be greater if the stamp remained at 6½p than if it were reduced?

Lord BESWICK

My Lords, this Question is about Christmas cards sent abroad. But on the point now put by the noble Baroness, as I have already told her, the judgment of the Post Office is that by increasing the rate the revenue will be increased.

Lord MAYBRAY-KING

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the stubbornness of the Post Office is pricing out of the market the Christmas greetings that many thousands of poorer people wish to send at this Christmas time?

Lord BESWICK

My Lords, that is the view of the noble Lord and it is shared by other people, but it is not the view of the Post Office.

Lord WADE

My Lords, on the point of the 5p stamp, is the Post Office bound by international Convention or is there any freedom to alter this figure of 5p?

Lord BESWICK

My Lords, the Universal Postal Union regulations cover a number of points. For example, the regulation governing the five words of greeting is laid down by the UPU Convention. The rate is not fixed but the weight is, and the rate will be increased in January.

Baroness BURTON of COVENTRY

My Lords, I am sure the Minister thinks I am being tiresome. I am not, but I think we are in a muddle. He did not answer the first part of my first supplementary question, and arising from his original reply I asked him whether, as this was not a profitable rate for cards sent abroad, the Post Office had to make a payment in accordance with the Universal Postal Union regulations.

Lord BESWICK

My Lords, I am sorry that my noble friend is in a muddle. The fact is that this is a somewhat more complex Question than she probably imagined in the first place. The fact is, as I have said, that this rate is not profitable. It is also a fact that in January it will be increased.

Baroness SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, can my noble friend tell me whether Sir William Ryland has any women among his advisers?

Lord BESWICK

My Lords, indirectly I think my noble friend is one.