§ Mr. GROVESasked the Postmaster-General (1) whether he will consider the 54W advisability of making the postal pillar-boxes more attractive; and whether any changes which will bring financial returns would benefit the local authority in which the pillar-boxes are fixed or whether any such increment would accrue to the State;
(2) whether he is aware that the various tramway standards in London where there are overhead wires have been successfully used for advertising signs; and whether he will consider the desirability of using the postal pillar-boxes for similar purposes?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHI will answer these two questions together, as I understand that both refer to a proposal to use pillar-boxes for commercial advertisements. Similar proposals have frequently been made; but they have invariably been rejected on the ground that such prospects of revenue as they offered were not worth the disfigurement involved, or the friction with the local authorities who are concerned with the amenities of the streets. With that view I concur, and I could not agree to the use of pillar-boxes for advertisement even if particular local authorities were ready to waive objection. In these circumstances the question as to what extent if at all the hypothetical revenue from the advertisements would be shared by the local authority does not arise. I have no information as to the success of any advertisements which may have been displayed on overhead tramway standards.
§ Mr. GROVESasked the Postmaster-General the number of pillar-boxes in use in the London area; and the total number in England and Wales and Scotland?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHThere are 3,966 pillar-boxes in the London postal area and about 1,300 posting boxes of other types. Up-to-date figures for the provinces are not available, but the number of posting boxes is estimated at, roughly, 53,000, including 11,000 pillar-boxes.