§ Mr. Geoffrey Finsbergasked the Secretary of State for Industry when he will publish the White Paper giving his response to the Carter Review Committee of the Post Office.
PRICE COMPARISONS October 1964 October 1969 June 1970 March 1974 November 1977 Inland first class letter … … … 3d 5d 5d 3½p 9p Overseas Air Mail Zone … … … 9d 12d 12d 6p 10½p Overseas Air Mail Zone … … … 15d 18d 18d 8p 11p Overseas Air Mail Zone … … … 18d 21d 21d 10p 13p
PERCENTAGE INCREASES FROM OCTOBER 1964 October 1964 October 1969 June 1970 March 1974 November 1977 Inland first class letter … … … — 67 67 180 620 Overseas Air Mail Zone … … … — 33 33 60 180 Overseas Air Mail Zone … … … — 20 20 28 76 Overseas Air Mail Zone … … … — 17 17 33 73 Retail price index … … … — 24 30 83 234 The increases in inland postal rates in the later years largely reflect the postal business's return to economic pricing after 1974, following a period of Government-imposed price restraint under the then Conservative Administration. Overseas airmail rates need to conform with international agreements and, moreover, have benefited from a substantial fall in the real costs of conveyance.