§ 61. Mr. Lewisasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the cost of living again rose last month, due in part to the increased postal and telephone charges; and what further action he proposes to take to reduce these charges, and thus assist the Government in their declared policy of reducing the cost of living.
§ Mr. K. ThompsonAs my right hon. Friend anticipated last July, the increased charges have inevitably had some small effect on the retail price index. The second part of the Question is answered, so far as is at present possible, in the recent White Paper.
§ Mr. Ness Edwardsasked the Postmaster-General whether the increased charges for postal and telephone services imposed during the summer in anticipation of increases in wages covered the two claims which he has now rejected.
§ Mr. K. ThompsonI assume that the right hon. Gentleman is referring to the claims of the Post Office Engineering Union and the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters. The first has not been rejected; offers have been made for most grades, but for certain grades no offers are being made until fact-finding reports are available. In fixing the increased charges announced last July it was assumed that offers would be made in respect of the current claim by the engineers but not the current claim by the sub-postmasters.
§ Mr. Ness Edwardsasked the Postmaster-General if, in view of the Government's policy on wages, he proposes to cancel that portion of the recently increased charges which was to meet anticipated increases in wages.
§ Mr. K. ThompsonNo.