§ 58. Mr. AMMONasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the cost of a stamp voucher for reply to correspondence with the Continent has been raised from 3d. to 6d.; and, seeing that the value of a postage stamp to foreign countries is 2½d., what is the reason for charging this excess amount?
§ Viscount WOLMERThe price was fixed at 6d. because, under the provisions of the Madrid Convention, 1920, exchanged coupons are accounted for between the countries of issue and exchange at the rate of 50 gold centimes per coupon. Apart from this, a lower price might lead to speculation in the coupons, as they are exchangeable in any country of the Postal Union for a postage stamp or stamps representing the postage on a single rate letter from that country for a place abroad, and this may be as much as 50 gold centimes. The price will be reduced to 4d. under the regulations of the Stockholm Convention, which comes into operation on 1st October.