HC Deb 24 October 1968 vol 770 c350W
Mr. Pardoe

asked the Postmaster-General if he will introduce legislation to allow private enterprise to provide local collection and delivery of mail and to end the statutory monopoly now enjoyed by the General Post Office.

Mr. Stonehouse

No. The Post Office has a statutory duty to provide a nationwide letter service. It would not, therefore, be reasonable to allow other carriers to collect, convey, and deliver local letters, the most profitable traffic, leaving the Post Office to carry unprofitable letters over long distances and to remote places. The Post Office has no monopoly for the collection and delivery of parcels.