asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what would be the cost to the Exchequer of reducing the cost of postage on postcards from 2d. to 1d.; and what is the estimated total number of postcards handled annually, printed and written, separately.

The immediate cost of the reduction would be about £1,250,000, but I should not expect the ultimate cost to be less than £3,000,000, as traffic would be diverted from letters at the 2½d. rate. The present annual level of postcard traffic at the 2d. rate is some 300,000,000: I am afraid no figures are available about cards sent at the printed paper penny rate.

As it will be no doubt obvious from my hon. Friend's answer to Question No. 11 that the Post Office have made a big profit, cannot he make a reduction of a penny?

I think we had better wait until we get to Question No. 11.