Mr. DOYLEasked the Postmaster-General if, in view of the considerable hardship inflicted on poor people by the twopenny postage, and considering the lowering of the cost of living and the adjustment of salaries and wages in the Post Office generally, he can see his way to reduce the charges on letters and postcards?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Leader of the House on 16th February in reply to the hon. and learned Member for York (Sir J. Butcher).
§ Mr. MYERSasked the Postmaster-General if he is able to state the estimated extent to which trade circulars and printed matter produced and circulated in this country has been posted abroad; if the practice still prevails; and what the loss has been to the postal revenue arising therefrom?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYThe total number monthly of packets of circulars and other printed matter delivered in this country, inland and foreign, is about 95,000,000. From special Returns which have been taken during the last few months it is found that, on an average, about 230,600 of these are circulars etc. issued by firms in this country but posted abroad for delivery here. As I stated on the 13th instant, in reply to my right hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn (Sir H. Norman), the estimated loss to the postal revenue of this country is slightly under £1,000 a month.
§ Mr. LYLEasked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that circulars for the British market are still, being posted abroad from Leipzig and elsewhere in 1914W Germany; and whether his Department has any statistics to show the growth of this practice, which causes such a loss to the Revenue?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI am aware of the fact. The latest returns show that the practice of posting in Germany and other Continental countries in order to obtain the advantage of the depreciated currencies of those countries is not increasing.