Sir S. ROBERTSasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the statement in the public Press of the secretary of the Association of Master Printers that £500,000 per week is the low estimate of the amount which is being lost to labour by the abolition of the halfpenny postal rate for printed matter, and that to delay the reduction of this rate six weeks until the end of the fiscal year will cause a loss to labour of £3,000,000; and will he press upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Government the grave necessity of using the present postal surplus for reducing this and other postal charges immediately, as a necessary means of vitalising industry and commerce and reducing unemployment?
§ Mr. PEASEI am aware of the statement referred to. The Government is at present considering the question of reducing postal charges.
Sir J. D. REESasked the Postmaster-General whether the surplus of eight millions now accruing at the Post Office as a result of this year's working will be used to effect reductions in the postal rates?
Sir J. D. REESasked the Postmaster-General if he has received representations from public bodies in Nottingham urging that present high postal charges and reduced services are very prejudicial to trade; and, if so, what action he proposes to take?
§ Mr. PEASEI would refer my hon. Friend to a reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Clayton (Mr. Sutton) on the 15th March last. The question of a reduction in postal charges is now under the consideration of the Government.