§ MR. M'LARENasked Mr. Chanceller of the Exchequer, Whether, with a view to disseminate the valuable information contained in many Blue Books and other Parliamentary Papers, he will arrange with the Post Office Department to allow Members of Parliament to send to their constituents, free of postage, their own copies of such Papers and other copies which they may purchase when posted at the Houses of Parliament in the same manner as Bills are now posted, it being understood that the Post Office authorities shall not be bound to forward such Papers on the day on which they are posted?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, in reply, said, he entirely agreed with the hon. Memer for Edinburgh that it was desirable that the information contained in these Blue Books should be disseminated through the country, and that hon. Members should take the opportunity of sending their own or other copies to those of their constituents who desired that information. But he was sorry to add that he did not see his way to restoring even to a limited extent the privilege of franking to Members of the House. The cost of postage was really very cheap, and he saw no necessity for returning to that system.