§ 23. Mr. Lewisasked the Secretary to the Treasury why Her Majesty's official Opposition are not allowed to send out their written whips and other official documents in franked envelopes, similarly to Her Majesty's Government; and whether he will take the necessary action to ensure that Her Majesty's official Opposition enjoy the same privileges in this connection as Her Majesty's Government.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI see no reason to make a change in the present practice which has been the same at least since 1895.
§ Mr. LewisBecause the practice has been in operation so long does not mean that it should not be altered. Is the Minister aware that in many respects Her Majesty's Opposition has proved itself to be acting more in the interests of the people and the country than Her Majesty's Government, and, on those grounds alone, will he see that it gets the same facilities as Her Majesty's Government?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI do not think that that is a very good argument. I must remind the hon. Gentleman that the state of affairs was maintained by the Administration between 1945 and 1951.