§ Mrs. RocheTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what consultations his Department had with the Treasury prior to the 1995 Budget announcement regarding the impact on small and medium enterprises of a rise in the price of stamps. [11957]
§ Mr. Oppenheim[holding answer 29 January 1996]: My Department had discussions with the Treasury on a range of issues in determining the financial targets which were set for the Post Office in the 1995 Budget. These did not specifically include the impact on SMEs of an increase in letter tariffs, as it is for the Post Office to assess the detailed impact of such changes on its customers which will depend primarily on the nature of their business. Letter tariff rates were last increased on 1 November 1993 and the Post Office has undertaken to maintain these rates until at least 31 March 1996, the longest period of stability since the late 1960s.