HC Deb 02 December 1947 vol 445 cc56-7W
Mr. Nally

asked the Postmaster-General what is the present estimated weekly total of postal packages received by his Department from football pool organisations; the estimated weekly total of packages posted by the public to such organisations and how such totals compare with the corresponding figures of 1946 and 1938.

Mr. Wilfred Paling

Based on October traffic in each case, the estimated weekly postings are as follows:

— Posted by the Organisations. Posted by the Public.
1947 … 8¾ million 6½ million
1946 … 7½ million 5¾ million
1938 … 13¼ million 5½ million

Mr. Nally

asked the Postmaster-General what is the estimated weekly profit made by his Department from the handling of postal packages to and from football pool organisations; and the estimated profit accruing from postal order purchases made by the public to meet football pool obligations.

Mr. Wilfred Paling

No firm figures are available, but it is roughly estimated that the profit on postal packages is of the order of £45,000 weekly, and the profit on postal orders of the order of £5,000 weekly.

Mr. Nally

asked the Postmaster-General the average number of football pool postal packages received each week by his Department at post offices in Liverpool, Glasgow, Cardiff, London, Manchester, Stockport, Swansea, Blackpool and Nottingham respectively; and if he will give, in each case, the corresponding figure for 1946.

Mr. Wilfred Paling

The estimated weekly average number of football pool postal packages posted by and delivered to football pool firms at the towns named is as follows:—

1946. (October). 1947.(October)
Liverpool:
posted … 5,698,000 5,851,000
delivered … 4,410,000 4,972,000
Glasgow: Too small
posted … for separate 214,000
delivered … record. 153,000
Cardiff:
posted … 634,700 1,255,000
delivered … 418,000 622,000
London:
posted … 527,000 784,000
delivered … 360,000 413,000
Manchester: Postings too small to be separately recorded.
posted …
delivered …
Stockport:
posted …
delivered …
Swansea:
posted … 11,000 9,000
delivered … 7,000 4,500
Blackpool:
posted … 22,000 57,000
delivered … 12,000 17,000
Nottingham:
posted … 10,000 17,000
delivered … 5,000 11,500