§ COLONEL WELBY (Taunton)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether, having regard to the great and increasing expense entailed upon Members of the House of Commons in replying through the post to communications on political affairs, he can see his way to letters in envelopes embossed with the badge of the House of Commons, addressed and signed in the left lower 1408 corner in the handwriting of a Member, and handed in by him at the post office in the Lobby, whilst the House is sitting, being stamped "Official Paid," as in public offices, and thus passing post free throughout the United Kingdom.
§ MR. HANBURYMy hon. and gallant friend's suggestion goes a good deal beyond the practice of the public offices which he quotes. Letters sent out from the public Departments only pass free when they refer to the public business of the Department. The privilege of franking which Members of both Houses had previously enjoyed was expressly abolished by Act of Parliament in 1840. There is nothing in my hon. friend's suggestion which would obviate the undoubted abuses to which such a system is necessarily liable.