Postal Charges

Oral Answers to Questions — Economic Affairs – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 20 October 1966.

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Photo of Sir Arthur Irvine Sir Arthur Irvine , Liverpool Edge Hill

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs why an exception was made to allow the recent increases in postal charges.

Photo of Mr William Rodgers Mr William Rodgers , Stockton-on-Tees

No, Sir. The increases in postal charges were an integral part of the measures necessary to remedy the economic situation announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 20th July.

Photo of Mr John Biggs-Davison Mr John Biggs-Davison , Chigwell

Does not that reply suggest that the Government are not only tyrannical but capricious? Is not the Government's prices and incomes policy in fact just a policy of higher prices and smaller incomes?

Photo of Mr William Rodgers Mr William Rodgers , Stockton-on-Tees

The position was set out very clearly indeed, as my right hon. Friend the First Secretary said, in the White Paper three months ago. There has been no change since then.

Photo of Sir Arthur Irvine Sir Arthur Irvine , Liverpool Edge Hill

Would the hon. Gentleman not agree that this looks to the country as if there is one law for Government industries and another for private industries? Would he not further agree that the increased Post Office charges are an integral part of all costs in every industry and that private industry is now supposed to absorb these costs itself?

Photo of Mr William Rodgers Mr William Rodgers , Stockton-on-Tees

We made it clear at every stage that, whether the prices are in the public or private sector, every effort should be made by those concerned to absorb them.