Post Office

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 15 July 1975.

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Photo of Mr Richard Wainwright Mr Richard Wainwright , Colne Valley 12:00, 15 July 1975

My hon. Friend's constituents have done that, but the answer is that under present legislation the option is not available to them.

I should like to see two experiments carried out locally. I have to be realistic, and I admit that both experiments would have to be carried out initially in urban areas. The first experiment should be in differential charges in favour of local mail. The imposition of the 8½p first-class rate for carrying a letter from a housebound invalid to a relative on the other side of a small town is an intolerable charge. The Post Office cannot get out of it by saying that it would be cheaper to telephone, because the telephone service is still not available to a vast section of the population.