Former MP for Brighton
I regret that I can add nothing to the answer given to a Question on this subject asked by the hon. Member for Normanton (Mr. T. Smith) on 30th January.
I do not think the hon. Gentleman is aware of the very large reductions that I made some time ago. The rates compare favourably with those in force in the last war and are based on the calculation of no profits whatever.
We are talking about parcels. The Question relates to parcels.
I regret that owing to the limited aircraft accommodation available for the conveyance of air-mails on the Empire air routes, I am not in a position to reduce the air postage rate of 1s. 3d. per half-ounce for Egypt and other countries served by these routes even in the case of letters addressed to members of His Majesty's Forces.
Yes, Sir.
We should be delighted to lower the rate and enable more letters to be sent, if the accommodation were available. The present rate is kept up because the accommodation is not available.
I regret that I have no information as to the number of 1s. calls between Scotland and London, but the total number of long-distance calls from Glasgow and Edinburgh to all parts of the United Kingdom between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Friday, 23rd February, 1940, was 2,035, compared with 1,895 on the corresponding Friday last year, an increase of about 7 per cent. The volume of traffic and the...
Because there is a war going on and we have had to hand over a large number of our lines, sometimes permanently, to the Forces. But, on the whole, I am glad to be able to tell the House that about 60 per cent. of the calls at cheap rate go through on demand.
