§ Mr. Tom Kingasked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) what are the latest figures for the reduction in first-class and second-class postal traffic as a result of the latest price increases;
(2) what percentage of the postal traffic is now first class and what percentage second class.
§ Mr. Gregor MackenzieFrom past experience it is premature to make assumptions about the long term, but the Post Office tells me that over the four-week period from 23rd March to 19th374W April, the latest available date, 40.9 per cent. of letter traffic was sent by first-class post and 59.2 per cent. by second-class. I am also informed that over the same period the first-class letter traffic has fallen by about 25 per cent. and the second-class has risen by about 8.5 per cent. These figures do not include meter traffic.