§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list all the price increases for sending a letter (1st class) less than 2 oz. in weight since 1960.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldAs shown in the Post Office's Annual Report and Accounts the letter tariff from 1960 until May 1965, for letters weighing up to 1 oz. was 3d, and 4½d for up to 2 oz. Tariffs and increases since then are shown below:
Date of increase Increase Tariff Not over 17th May 1965 1d 4d 2 oz. 16th September 1968* 1d 5d 4 oz. 15th February 1971† 1p 3p 4 oz (approx.) 6th March 1972 — 3p 2oz. 10th September 1973 ½p 3½p 2oz. 24th June 1974 1p 4½p 2 oz. 17th March 1975 2½p 7p 2 oz. 29th September 1975‡ 1½P 8½p 60 grams. (2.1 oz.) * Introduction of two-tier system and first-class letter post replacing the former letter and printed paper rates. † Decimalisation of currency. ‡ Metrication of weight steps. The Post Office has recently announced that, due to the success of the Government's couner-inflation policies and its own internal economies, it will be able 627W to hold letters of up to 100 grams at their present rates till the end of this year. This will have ensured at least 15 months' price stability.