HC Deb 07 March 1946 vol 420 cc477-8
4. Mr. Peter Freeman

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General why a letter which is returned by the post office within 24 hours is not surcharged to the sender, but when held up for a longer period the postage due for returning to the sender is demanded.

Mr. Burke

My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. The envelope which he kindly sent me is that of a packet prepaid 1d. postage for transmission by printed paper post. Undeliverable postal packets prepaid less than the minimum letter rate are invariably charged a second postage on delivery to the sender, whether returned within 24 hours or not. This has been the practice since 1895. It is of course open to the sender not to request return if the packet is undeliverable, in which case it is destroyed.

Mr. Freeman

Will my hon. Friend inform his Post Office staff accordingly, so that they can give correct instructions to the public?

Mr. Burke

They do give correct instructions but I think my hon. Friend is confusing this point with redirected letters, which are sent on free within 24 hours.