HC Deb 17 November 1954 vol 533 cc395-6
49. Major Anstruther-Gray

asked the Minister of Defence whether he is now in a position to make a statement concerning the free postage of Christmas parcels to men serving in Korea, Japan and Malaya.

Mr. H. Macmillan

Yes, Sir. I am glad to be able to inform the House that it has been decided to repeat this year, under the same conditions as applied in 1953, the Christmas air parcel postage concessions for our Forces in Korea and Japan and for entitled personnel in Malaya.

I will circulate full particulars of the scheme in the OFFICIAL REPORT. A Press and broadcast notice to the same effect is being issued by the Postmaster-General tomorrow.

Major Anstruther-Gray

May we take it from that announcement that the concessions are additional to those which already apply to the postage rates to those countries?

Mr. Macmillan

Yes, Sir. The Forces concessionary rates for both first and second class airmail are available to British troops overseas throughout the year. There is, however, no Forces concessionary rate for sending parcels by air.

Following are the particulars:

1. On and from next Monday, 22nd November, one parcel up to 3 lb. in weight addressed to each member of H.M. Forces, and crews of Royal Fleet Auxiliaries, in Korea and Japan will be accepted at any post office free of postage and will be conveyed by airmail.

2. A similar concession also applies to some personnel serving in Malaya, but in that case only for a member of H.M. Forces who left the United Kingdom for Malaya after the last date of posting of surface mail parcels for that country (3rd November) and was allotted the postal address (for Royal Navy) "Draft (266/5, 284/5–287/5 inclusive, 301/5, 2779/5, 2780/5) British Forces Post Office 100" or (for Army and R.A.F.) "British Army Post Office 102," to which the parcels should be addressed. These parcels may be posted up to and including 8th December for Korea and Japan and 14th December for Malaya.

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

4. The parcels cannot be accepted before next Monday 22nd November, or after 8th December (for Korea and Japan) and 14th December (for Malaya).