HC Deb 16 March 1888 vol 323 c1428
MR. THOMAS (Glamorgan, E.)

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether it is true, as stated in The Shipping World, for March, 1888, that Her Majesty's Consular Officers Are obliged to send letters to their correspondents without paying postage thereon, with an apology that they are unable to do so because no allowance is made by the Government for that purpose; and, whether it is true, as stated by The Shipping World, that no allowance is made by the Government To cover postage upon Correspondence arising out of, and in connection with, the official position of such Consular Officers?

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)

The statement is incorrect. No fixed allowances are made to cover postages; but accounts of expenditure on account of official postages are sent in periodically, and are paid when passed.