§ 19. Brigadier Prior-Palmerasked the Postmaster-General if he will reduce the present cost of carriage of newsprint by air to East Africa, in order that British newspapers may be made more easily available to dwellers in the East African territories.
§ Mr. Wilfred PalingThe possibility of extending to East Africa, and other Commonwealth destinations, facilities for the transmission of newspapers and other second class mail by air at reduced air postage rates, is being considered in consultation with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and British Overseas Airways Corporation, but I am not in a position to say when it may be possible to introduce such facilities.
§ Brigadier Prior-PalmerIs the Minister aware that his reply will give a certain amount of satisfaction in the territories concerned; but is he further aware that, at this moment, an air mail copy of "The Times" costs 3s. 4d. in Nairobi, that is, 4d. for the newspaper and 3s. for air freight, and that other newspapers are practically unobtainable there, and will he do something urgently to remedy this state of affairs?
§ Mr. PalingI have said that this matter is being considered at the moment.
§ Mr. SkeffingtonIs my right hon. Friend aware that opinion in many of these territories is that, even if it is a question of subsidisation, it is the sort of thing we ought to do for Imperial relations?
§ Mr. PalingWe may be able to help.