HC Deb 17 March 1948 vol 448 cc2084-5
40. Sir Wavell Wakefield

asked the Postmaster-General why correspondence addressed to the hon. Member for St. Marylebone from his office was delivered to the "Daily Worker" before ultimately reaching the hon. Member for St. Marylebone.

The Postmaster-General (Mr. Wilfred Paling)

I can only repeat my apologies, already tendered to the hon. Member in writing, for this inexplicable happening.

Sir W. Wakefield

Does not the Minister agree that, in view of the importance of his Department in so far as communications are concerned, it is of the utmost importance that proper security measures are taken; and in view of the recent statement by the Prime Minister in connection with Communism and security, what is he proposing to do about it so that instances of this kind will not occur again?

Mr. Godfrey Nicholson

May I ask if these letters were of a compromising nature?

Mr. H. Hynd

Can the Minister say whether this letter was addressed to the hon. Member for St. Marylebone (Sir W. Wakefield) at the offices of the "Daily Worker"?

Mr. Gallacher

I want to ask the Postmaster-General, if the mail of the "Daily Worker" had gone to the hon. Member for St. Marylebone (Sir W. Wakefield), would it ever have found its way back to the "Daily Worker"?

Viscount Hinchingbrooke

Will the Postmaster-General return tit for tat by placing the correspondence and instructions issued to the "Daily Worker" in the Library of the House of Commons?