§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will ensure that electricity and gas boards will make available their savings stamps to all sub-post offices even where these are within a short distance of an electricity or gas showroom.
§ Mr. Norman LamontUnder their agreement with the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters that I announced on 12 May, the gas and electricity industries have arranged that their stamps may be sold at any sub-post office, wherever situated.
§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Energy what progress has been made in making electricity and gas saving stamps available through Crown post offices.
§ Mr. Norman LamontI understand that the statutory and cost difficulties in the way of sales of the industries' stamps through the 1,600 Crown post offices have not yet been resolved. The agreement between the industries and the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters that I announced on 12 May does, however, permit the sale of the industries' stamps through some 19,000 sub-post offices. This extension of the industries' existing "pay-as-you-go" schemes will be particularly helpful to consumers living in outlying areas where the industries do not have showrooms.