57. Mr. Driberģasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury which Members of Parliament are now afforded facilities for franking mail to their constituents.
Mr. DriberģWhile not suggesting that they should not have this privilege, may I ask my right hon. Friend if it is not the case that within fairly recent times it was accorded to the Whips?
§ Mr. PeakePerhaps I might explain that the position of Ministers is somewhat different—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh"]—but I take it that my hon. Friend's Question applies to Members of Parliament as such.
§ Mr. ShinwellDo we understand from that answer that, so far as personal postage is concerned—that is to say, postage which applies to personal matters—Ministers have their letters franked? I was never aware that that was so, but is it the case now?
§ Mr. PeakeNo, that is not the case, but some Ministers, I understand, as a matter of practical convenience, have their constituency correspondence dealt with through their offices and, in that case, their letters are franked.
Mr. DriberģIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that it would be a matter of great practical convenience for all of us to have our letters franked?
§ Mr. StokesIs the Minister aware that some of us deplore this custom?
§ Mr. ShinwellThis appears to be quite a new practice. It was not the case when I was a member of His Majesty's Government, and I wonder whether, if Ministers who receive salaries can have their personal letters franked because it is convenient to join both together, hon. Members can have the same privilege?
§ Mr. PeakeIt is quite clear that no Minister gets his personal correspondence franked at Government expense, but so far as his constituency correspondence is concerned—
§ Mr. ShinwellThat is what I meant.
§ Mr. Peake—the position is, I think, rather different [HON. MEMBERS: 1318 "Why?"]. In the first place, Ministers get no allowance for expenses of any sort against the Income Tax on their salaries, and also by taking office Ministers preclude themselves from other methods of supplementing their income, whether by trade, journalism, or any other profession.
§ Mr. SpeakerI do not think we can go any further with this matter by way of question and answer.
§ Mr. ShinwellOn a point of Order. As this is a matter, Sir, not of party politics, but one which affects hon. Members and the expenses they incur as a result of their ordinary responsibilities, of which not even the Prime Minister seeks to deprive us, and which brings to us a great measure of correspondence, will you, as custodian of the rights of hon. Members, take into account the extraordinary position which has now been revealed, namely, that members of the Government, who receive salaries from the State, do have their constituency correspondence franked, which is not a privilege which is accorded to ordinary private Members?
§ Mr. SpeakerThat is not a matter for me; it is a matter for the Government.
§ Sir H. WilliamsFurther to that point of Order. I submit, Sir, that this is a matter for the House of Commons. For many years Members of Parliament had their correspondence franked. Unfortunately, it was abused—
§ Mr. ShinwellAnd stopped.
§ Sir H. WilliamsI was for a short time a Minister, and I always paid postage on every letter in reply to a constituent, unless his letter came to me, not as the Member of Parliament but as a Minister.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member is making a statement. He had better make a request for a Debate because, as I have said, this is not a matter which can be properly dealt with at Question Time.
Mr. DriberģIn view of what you have said, Sir, and in order that there may be a Debate, I give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment at the first opportunity.