§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Postmaster-General why, in view of the fact that the Post Office handling of letters, postcards, and printed papers rose during the last year by 100 million to 11,300 million and that a profit of £40–2 million on an income of £772.8 million was made, was against a £20.1 million profit on an income of £646.5 million for the previous year he intends to increase postal charges from 3rd October; and as this is contrary to the Government's wages and prices standstill, whether he will now stop these proposed increases.
§ Mr. Joseph SlaterI would remind my hon. Friend that these increases formed262W part of the measures announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 20th July.
Of the £40.2 million profit in 1965–66 the postal services contributed only £0.9 million. Without the increased charges, the postal services would incur heavy losses of £8 million this financial year and £19 million next year.