25. Major Vyvyan Adamsasked the Postmaster-General whether he is now able to issue a light-weight air letter-card for use in correspondence with British prisoners of war?
§ The Postmaster-General (Mr. W. S. Morrison)Yes, Sir. A light-weight letter card, specially designed for use in writing to British prisoners of war, will be on sale from Monday next, 21st July, at a cost of 3d., including postage. The letter-card has been so printed that it will help correspondents to use the correct addresses. It is also closed by folding and not sealing, thus facilitating censorship. These factors should expedite handling here and abroad. Under the existing arrangements for air mail services with the German authorities, these air letter cards will be carried to Germany all the way by air. Further, I am glad to be able to announce that by virtue of 585 a recent agreement with the Italian authorities, air mail letters and air letter cards will be carried by the Italian air service from Lisbon to Rome. Thus they will now travel by air all the way from this country to Italy. The free service by sea to Lisbon and the normal air mail service will still be available.
Major AdamsIs my right hon. Friend aware that these arrangements will be extremely gratefully received? May I ask whether there is any chance of a small fixed proportion in each case going free of any postal charge in future?
§ Mr. MorrisonNo, Sir, I cannot hold out any hope that the air mail service will be free, but free services on surface routes will, of course, be continued.
§ Sir William DavisonWhat is the proportion of Italian prisoners in our hands and British prisoners in Italian hands?