§ Mr. Awberyasked the Postmaster-General what are the services rendered to various Government Departments and other public authorities by the Post Office which have now to be paid for directly by the Exchequer or from rates which were not paid before the Post Office Act, 1961; and what is the estimated annual amount to be recovered for each of these services.
§ Mr. BevinsThe following is the reply:
SERVICES FOR WHICH THE POST OFFICE HAS REQUIRED PAYMENT IN CASH FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1ST APRIL, 1961 Service Amount credited in the 1960–61 Commercial Accounts as Post Office Income £ million Carriage of mail 9.22 Remittances by money order and postal order 0.15 Administrative services in connection with Broadcasting 2.46 Services in connection with National Savings 6.89 Payment of pensions and allowances 3.63 Issue of road vehicle licences 0.45 Issue of local taxation licences (dog, gun and game) 0.17 Issue of Inland Revenue stamps, receipt stamps, etc. 0.36 Issue of postage stamps for medical prescriptions and for the purchase of vitamin foods. Refundment of prescription charges 0.25 Services in connection with shipping (distress watch; inspection of ships' wireless apparatus, etc.) 0.15