§ SIR HENRY PEEKasked the Postmaster General, Whether, in view of the fact that a large proportion of Members' correspondence is on the public service in connection with their constituencies, he will consider whether the penny extra payable on letters handed in between 7 and 7.30 p.m. to go from the House of Commons Post Office by the same night's mails might not be discontinued; and, whether he can inform the House how much the extra pence amount to per Session?
§ LORD JOHN MANNERSThe extra penny payable on letters between 7 and 7.30 p. m. is not intended for revenue purposes, but to secure the posting of letters in proper time for transmission by the mails. If there were no such extra charge the great bulk of the letters would be posted close upon half-past 7, and then it would be hardly possible to despatch the mails from St. Martin's-le-Grand in proper time. As to the last part of the Question, no account was taken of the number of extra-pence letters.