Mr. L. HARMSWORTHasked the Postmaster-General whether the increases in 2312W postage rates instituted since the commencement of the War have caused any reduction, and, if so, what reduction, in the volume of letters passing through the post?
§ Mr. J. PEASENo returns of letters posted have been taken since the outbreak of the War, owing to the pressure on the Post Office staff. Even if returns were available it would be very difficult in the existing abnormal circumstances to decide to what extent any reduction in the number of letters posted should be attributed to the change in the rate of postage, which affected only letters over 1 oz. in weight, rather than to the other conditions arising from the War which tend to reduce the number of letters.