HC Deb 12 April 1921 vol 140 cc908-9
30. Commander BELLAIRS

asked the Postmaster-General, with reference to the doubling of the French postage to this country to 50 centimes, on what principle the recipient of a letter is charged 5d. when the old stamp of 25 centimes is affixed, leaving an insufficient postage of 25 centimes?

The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Pike Pease)

Insufficiently paid correspondence is subject under the regulations of the universal postal union to a surcharge on delivery of double the amount of the deficiency. Surcharges raised on foreign correspondence are provisionally being converted into British currency at the par rate; but the question of adopting a different method is under consideration.

Commander BELLAIRS

Who gets the benefit of this extortion by which the surcharge is doubled, and charged at the old rate of exchange before the War?

Mr. PEASE

The money collected in this country goes to this country. With regard to the exchange, at the present time it is a very complicated question. As my hon. and gallant Friend probably knows, quite recently this question has been debated for a long time, and this is only a Provisional Order.

Commander BELLAIRS

Is it not obvious, for instance in the case of Germany, that the Germans could heavily penalise English citizens by sending letters with insufficient postage?

Mr. PEASE

I quite admit there is good ground for considering the point which the hon. and gallant Gentleman has brought to my notice. Of course, this is only a Provisional Order at the present moment.