asked the Postmaster-General if he will give details of the recent rise in wages of Post Office workers; and what is the total annual cost.

I am sending to the hon. Member the details for which he asks. The total additional annual cost of the revised scales is estimated to be slightly over £5,000,000.

In view of the fact that the Government have just passed through this House a Finance Bill to stop inflation, will the Postmaster-General and other Ministers realise that the mere handing out of pieces of paper does no good to the Post Office workers or to the public, and only accentuates the vicious spiral?

That is another question.

Has the Postmaster-General any idea of carrying out the policy expressed in paragraph 28 of the Economic Survey for 1947, which says: Any further general increase in wages and profits must be accompanied by a corresponding increase in production?

Hon. Members:

Answer.

Before my right hon. Friend replies, will he say if it is not the fact that these increases—and, indeed, much more substantial increases—are long overdue if the Post Office workers are to be provided with a reasonable standard of living? Is it not a fact that if he had not conceded part of the claims of the workers my right hon. Friend would have found some difficulty in retaining his staff, and recruiting new entrants into the various grades?

Is it not a fact that despite the increase of salaries and the fact that the present staff is quite adequate for the needs of the Post Office, the postal service today is worse than it has ever been?

Emphatically not. I thought there were sufficiently good reasons for giving these increases.

I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter again on the Adjournment at the first opportunity.