§ Mr. Stratton Millsasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will make a statement on postal charges and services.
§ Mr. ChatawayThe Post Office Users' National Council has now concluded its examination of the postal tariff and service proposals outlined in my reply of 3rd November to the hon. Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Mr. Maude) and has given its views on the alternatives presented to it. After consulting me, the Post Office has decided to accept all the main recommendations in the Council's Report, a copy of which will be placed in the Library.
There will be no alteration in the price of letters up to 2 ozs., which make up the bulk of the traffic, and no major service cuts will be introduced for the time being. The increases in charges for letters over 2 ozs. and for parcels will now take effect on 6th March and the relatively minor service changes from August onwards.—[Vol. 825, c. 2–3.]