HC Deb 09 March 1885 vol 295 cc443-4
MR. TOMLINSON

asked the Postmaster General, Whether it is the fact that, owing to the impossibility of procuring postage stamps in the Egyptian desert, letters from the Troops in Egypt are sent home without prepayment of postage; whether the relatives and friends of the soldiers are required to pay double postage on receipt of such letters; and, whether he will take any steps to remedy this hardship and injustice?

MR. SHAW LEFEVRE

It is certainly the case that many letters from the British troops in Egypt reach this country without prepayment, owing, no doubt, to the difficulty of procuring postage stamps in the Egyptian Desert; but such letters are not, as the hon. Member seems to suppose, charged with double postage on delivery. The instructions are to charge such letters with the single rate of postage, as if they had been prepaid. On inquiry, I learn that a few letters have inadvertently been charged double postage, and in those cases the extra postage has been refunded. I have renewed the order, and hope no similar error will occur.