HC Deb 19 November 1952 vol 507 cc1857-9
39. Sir I. Fraser

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence if he can now make a statement as to special Christmas parcel postal facilities for serving men and women overseas.

42. Mr. Perkins

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence whether he will now make a statement regarding the latest date for posting Christmas parcels to our Forces in Korea.

44. Brigadier Clarke

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence what special arrangements are being made regarding Christmas parcel post for service personnel fighting in Korea and Malaya.

53. Mr. Driberg

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence what arrangements are being made this year for post-free Christmas gift parcels to the troops in Korea, Malaya and the Middle East.

Mr. Birch

As in 1950 and 1951, one Christmas parcel of not more than 3 lb. in weight will be accepted for conveyance by air, free of postage, to each member of our Forces in Korea and Japan, and to men sent to Malaya after 6th November, (which is the last date for posting parcels to that country by surface route). Under this scheme parcels may be handed in at post offices for despatch to Korea and Japan between 24th November and 8th December and for despatch to Malaya between 24th November and 13th December (all dates inclusive).

I will circulate full particulars of the scheme, which will start on 24th November, in the OFFICIAL REPORT. They will also be available at Post Offices.

No special facilities are being arranged for other overseas stations.

Sir I. Fraser

I thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Can he say why nothing can be done for the men in Germany and the Middle East?

Mr. Birch

They are in a different position, first, because the last posting date is much later and, second, because the charges are so much less. The charges are very high over the great distances to the Far East, and such charges do not apply in Germany.

Mr. Driberg

Could the hon. Gentleman say what the cost of this extremely valuable scheme is, and how much more it would cost to extend it to the Middle East?

Mr. Birch

The cost of the scheme announced, if used to the full, would be approximately £58,000. I cannot give the other figure without notice.

Brigadier Clarke

Will my hon. Friend put the details of the N.A.A.F.I. parcel scheme in the Library so that people can send parcels by that scheme and thereby save the Exchequer a considerable amount of air freight money?

Mr. Birch

I will certainly look into that.

Following is the Statement:

CHRISTMAS PARCELS TO H.M. FORCES IN KOREA, JAPAN AND MALAYA

As from 24th November, 1952, one parcel up to 3 lbs. in weight addressed to each member of H.M. Forces and of crews of Royal Fleet Auxiliaries in Korea and Japan will be accepted at any post office free of postage and will be conveyed by air mail. This concession also applies in respect of each member of H.M. Forces who left the U.K. for Malaya after the last date of posting of surface mail parcels for that country (6th November).

Parcels must be prominently marked "CHRISTMAS PARCEL FOR KOREA" (or "MALAYA" as the case may be) and have a blue Air Mail label affixed next to each address on the parcel.

The parcels cannot be accepted at post offices before 24th November, and the latest dates for posting are 8th December for Korea and Japan and 13th December for Malaya.