HC Deb 06 October 1931 vol 257 cc985-6W
Mr. WALLACE

asked the Postmaster-General what was the volume of traffic handled during the year ended 31st March, 1931, in the principal departments of the Post Office, comparable with the statistics of Post Office business for 1929–30, given as an appendix to the Commercial Accounts, 1929?

Mr. ORMSBY-GORE

A statement giving the information required is attached. Some of the figures are still subject to possible adjustments.

Comparative Statistics of Post Office Business.
1930–31.
Number.
1. Postal Packets (*) 6,475,000,000
2. Parcels 161,867,000
3. Registered Letters and Parcels 58,625,000
4. Express Delivery Services 1,972,000
5. Telegrams 51,785,000

Number.
6. Telephones—
Trunk Calls 123,907,000
Local Calls (†) 1,370,000,000
7. Money Orders (including Trade Charge Orders) 14,965,000
8. Postal Orders 191,203,000
9. Savings Bank Deposits 22,287,000
10. Savings Bank With drawals, etc 11,661,000
11. Government Stock and Bond Accounts open 1,687,000
12. Licences (other than Wireless) 4,214,000
13. Old Age, Widows, etc. Pension Orders 137,353,000
14. Health and Pension In Amount.
surance Stamps £45,978,000
15. Unemployment Insurance Stamps £27,996,000
16. War Pensions, Service Number.
Allowances, etc. 54,675,000
Amount.
£48,857,000
Number.
17. Postal Drafts 4,488,000
Amount.
£13,578,000
18. Dividends on War Stock, etc. £8,041,000
19. Savings Certificates—
Issued (Purchase Price) £50,893,000
Repaid (Including Interest) £53,7 7,0001
20. Entertainment Tax Stamps £311,000
21. Income Tax Stamps £121,000
Number.
22. Wireless Receiving Licences (§) 3,647,000
23. Inland C.O.D. Parcels and Packets (included in Parcels above) 2,432,000
24. Telephone Exchanges at end of year 4,886
25. Telephone Call Offices at end of year 34,618
26. Telephones at end of year 1,982,171
27. Mileage of Wire at end of year (║) 9,386,900
(*) Includes Letters, Postcards, Printed Papers and Newspapers.
(†) Including originating trunk calls.
(‡) Including £1,921,000 converted into other securities or reinvested.
(§) Including Licences issued free to the blind.
(║) Including spare wire, but excluding submarine cable.