§ Mr. Tom Kingasked the Secretary of State for Industry what are the latest figures available on postal traffic for first-and second-class mail in relation to the figures for the comparable period the previous year; and what is the comparison of the split between first- and second-class mail.
§ Mr. Gregor MackenzieI understand from the Post Office that so far this financial year, i.e., for the period 1st April 1975 to 10th January 1976, the number of letters sent by first-class mail was 24 per cent. lower than in the corresponding 391W period the previous year and the number of letters sent by second-class mail was just over 3 per cent. higher. This is a net overall reduction in volume of 9 per cent. For the same periods the first-class stream accounted for 38.6 per cent. and 46 per cent. of all letters in 1975–76 and 1974–75 respectively. These figures are based on sampling and exclude mail franked by users' own postage meter machines.