HC Deb 19 June 1893 vol 13 cc1340-1
MR. BODKIN (Roscommon, N.)

I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether there is any exemption in the Statute 4 & 5 Vict., c. 56, in favour of the Official Correspondence of Ministers or of Public Departments, or any distinction taken between them and Members of the House of Commons; whether he will consult the Law Officers if it would be legal, without further legislation, to extend the same privileges which attaches to such Correspondence to the letters of Members of Parliament posted within the precincts of the House, the expense of such an arrangement being defrayed out of a Vote for the purpose; and whether he will favourably consider the advisability of such an arrangement if it is found to be legal, and will give an approximate estimate of the cost of same?

MR. A. MORLEY

My answer to the first question is, No. The Act 3 & 4 Vict., c. 96 expressly abolished existing privileges of free postage, the chief of which was that enjoyed by Members of Parliament. I see no necessity for consulting the Law Officers, because, as I informed the hon. Member on Friday, the change he desires would require a fresh Act of Parliament.

DR. MACGREGOR (Inverness-shire)

May I ask the Postmaster General if he will state why paid officials of the Crown are allowed free postage for letters they send to Members of this House, while unpaid Members of the House have to stamp letters sent in reply to Ministers of the Crown?

MR. A. MORLEY

There is not a system of free postage in regard to Public Departments. No money actually passes, but all the transactions are shown on the Votes. Members of the House and the public generally are allowed to write to Ministers without stamping the letters.

DR. MACGREGOR

I have never been aware of that.

MR. MACFARLANE

Will the right hon. Gentleman charge double postage on all letters sent to Members of this House?

MR. HOGAN (Tipperary, Mid)

In connection with this subject, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that Members of several of our Colonial Parliaments have not only their letters franked through the post, but are also presented with free first-class passes over all the railways, and have a prescriptive right to the box-seat on all coaches carrying Her Majesty's mails; and whether he can give any satisfactory reasons why Members of the Imperial Parliament should not enjoy similar facilities for the performance of their public duties?

[The question was not answered.]