§ Mr. Maudeasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he has received proposals for changes in postal tariffs and services.
§ Mr. Chataway:The Post Office has informed me that it does not propose any increase in the basic first and second class rates for letters up to two ounces, and the bulk of postal users will therefore 3W be unaffected by the tariff changes proposed. However, after consulting me, the Post Office is today sending to the Post Office Users' National Council proposals for increasing inland postal charges for parcels and heavier letters, so as to produce additional postal revenue of rather less than 5 per cent. on average, and for streamlining postal services in the longer term. The tariff increases, which are proposed for introduction in February, 1972, have been drastically pruned to conform with the policy of price restraint. All the proposals will be carefully reviewed by the Government and the Post Office before any decision is reached in the light of comments from the Users' Council. Telephone tariffs are not affected. Details of the Post Office's proposals will be placed in the Library.