HC Deb 10 December 1947 vol 445 c982
8. Mr. Geoffrey Cooper

asked the Postmaster-General what restrictions he places on the use of official paid envelopes by nationalised undertakings and associated companies for their ordinary postal correspondence; what steps are taken by his Department to verify the suitability of a firm to make use of postal services at the public expense; and, in particular, if the National Screen Service, Ltd., comes under the heading of a nationalised or an associated company which is entitled by his regulations to use official paid postal service for the distribution of their films.

Mr. Wilfred Paling

Official paid envelopes and labels are supplied only to Government Departments under regulations made by the Treasury which prescribe safeguards for their proper use. I understand that National Screen Service, Ltd., distribute films for certain Government Departments, and for that purpose they are supplied by the Departments concerned with specially printed or partially printed labels bearing the "Official Paid" design.

Mr. Cooper

If this is a private company, is this concession justified?

Mr. Paling

I said that this company are distributing films for certain Government Departments. We provide labels for them.

Mr. Keeling

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether there is any case on record in which an unstamped letter bearing the letters "O.H.M.S." written in ink has been returned by any Government Department with a request for payment of postage?

Mr. Paling

I do not know. If the hon. Gentleman knows of such a case, perhaps, he will let me know.

Mr. Keeling

Has any such letter ever been returned?