§ 95. Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenportasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the grievance felt by many firms at the increase in the Post Office box number charge from £5 to £10 per annum; why this 100 per cent. increase was imposed since it has been said that the principal cost was that of delivery to customers' doors; and whether he will reconsider the position, in view of the fact that the keeping of these boxes by firms is of direct help to the Post Office.
§ Mr. MarplesI am sorry that the increased charges for Post Office boxes are felt to be a grievance; but the charges had been unchanged since 1919, and even at the new level the service is still running at a loss. The work which has to be done in post offices to provide this service more than outweighs any savings in postmen's delivery time and I cannot agree to reduce the charges for it.