HC Deb 18 January 1977 vol 924 cc180-1W
Mr. Cockcroft

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what are the proportions of first-and second-class letters posted during the current Christmas period; and how they compare with the figures for the same period of last year.

Mr. Les Huckfield

The Post Office informs me that the proportions of inland and overseas mail posted by first and second class were:

First Class per cent.
1st-24th December 1976 … 30.1
1st-24th December 1975 … 30.9
Second Class per cent
1st-24th December 1976 … 69.9
lst-24th December 1975 … 69.1

These are unaudited figures.

Mr. Cockcroft

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the estimated number of parcels handled by postal business during the first half of its financial year 1975–76; and how this compares with the same period of the previous year.

Mr. Les Huckfield

The Post Office informs me that the number of inland parcels handled in the periods in question were:

April—September 1975 80.2 million
April—September 1974 90.1 million

Mr. Cockcroft

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many letters and parcels the Post Office handled during the Christmas period in 1976 compared to the same period in 1975.

Mr. Les Huckfield

The Post Office informs me that the number of inland and overseas letters and parcels handled in the two periods were:

Inland and Overseas Letters million
lst-24thDecember 1976 929.5
1st-24thDecember1975 904.9
Inland and Overseas Parcels million
lst-24th December 1976 14.0
lst-24th December 1975 15.2

These are unaudited figures.

Mr. Cockcroft

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what are the proportions of first-and second-class letters posted during the first six months of the Post Office's financial year 1975–76; and how these compare with the figures for the same period of the previous year.

Mr. Les Huckfield

The Post Office informs me that the proportions of inland mail posted by first and second-class were as follows:

First Class per cent.
April—September 1975 … 34.5
April—September 1974 … 44.0
Second Class per cent.
April—September 1975 … 65.5
April—September 1974 … 56.0