HC Deb 07 April 1919 vol 114 cc1669-71
84. Mr. BOTTOMLEY

asked the Postmaster-General upon what principle he grants the right to Ministers to frank their official correspondence, and refuses such right to Members of Parliament in connection with correspondence relating to their Parliamentary duties?

Mr. ILLINGWORTH

The privilege of "franking," properly so called (i.e., a personal privilege of sending and receiving all letters free of postage whether they were on private or public business), was abolished by Statute in 1840. In order to save the labour of prepaying and accounting in Government Departments, and for no other reason, the abolition of "franking" was followed by a system under which letters sent upon the business of a Government Department, the whole expenses of which are defrayed by a Vote of Parliament, are "certified" instead of being prepaid with stamps, and the estimated amount of postage on letters so sent is debited to the account of the Department concerned. A Minister, therefore, sends letters without payment of postage not as a Member of Parliament, but as a servant of the Crown, and the exemption from prepayment applies only to letters sent upon the business of his Department.

Sir F. HALL

How is the estimate arrived at?

Mr. ILLINGWORTH

I do not know exactly how it is done. But we have a system of averaging. We test in the Departments on certain days.

Sir F. HALL

I accept the right hon. Gentleman's reply to my very difficult question.

Mr. BILLING

Are not Members of Parliament servants of the Crown? What is the difference between writing on behalf of a constituent to the Pensions Department to obtain a pension and the reply of the Department refusing it?

Mr. ILLINGWORTH

That question, should be addressed to the Law Officers of the Crown.

85. Mr. BOTTOMLEY

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that certain Ministers of the Crown are in the habit of franking their private domestic correspondence; and whether this practice has his authority?

Mr. ILLINGWORTH

The practice, if it exists, is unauthorised. The object of the present system of certifying letters as official is—according to the Treasury Minutes of 1840—"to prevent any letters not bonâ fide on the public service being charged at the expense of the public."

Mr. BOTTOMLEY

Has not the right ton. Gentleman received from me a glaring instance of the way in which this privilege is abused? Have I not sent the original envelope and a letter?

Mr. ILLINGWORTH

I have received it, and am having the case inquired into.

Mr. BOTTOMLEY

Will you reprimand the Ministers?