§ 21. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will reduce the present high charges for sending by air mail newspapers to members of His Majesty's Forces serving overseas.
§ Mr. BurkeThere is no separate air mail postage rate for newspapers for His Majesty's Forces overseas. Newspapers prepaid at letter rates of postage receive the same treatment as letters, namely, if not exceeding one ounce and prepaid 1½d. they are in general conveyed by air as the normal means of transmission, or if over one ounce they are conveyed by air on payment of the special air mail rate of 6d. for one and a half ounces and higher rates for two ounces and above. The introduction of a specially reduced air mail rate for newspapers would necessitate a large increase in the aircraft capacity allocated to mails, and I am advised that any such increase would be impracticable in existing circumstances.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIs it not a fact that it costs sixpence to send a copy of the "Daily Herald" to a man serving in the Far East, and does not the Assistant Postmaster-General regard that as quite prohibitive?
§ Major Guy LloydIs it not time the Government gave consideration to the question of reducing charges for air mail postage altogether, both for letters and newspapers, as they are most exorbitant, and poor people cannot afford to pay them?
§ Mr. SpeakerThis relates to the Forces, and not to air mail postages generally.