HC Deb 17 July 1957 vol 573 cc1122-3
20. Sir H. Lucas-Tooth

asked the Postmaster-General why he charges 16s. for sending a special messenger from the House of Commons to Hendon and back while he charges only 8s. for sending such a messenger from Hendon to the House of Commons and back.

The Assistant Postmaster-General (Mr. Kenneth Thompson)

We charge only for the distance the messenger travels in the direct service of the user; that is, from the post office from which he starts to the point of delivery.

Sir H. Lucas-Tooth

Is it not rather absurd to charge twice as much if I ring up the post office at Hendon than is charged if I ring up the post office in the House of Commons?

Mr. Thompson

If the user of the service requires the messenger to travel from the point at which the user wants to start to a distant point, and to return, then the user must pay according to the mileage travelled. If, however, the user wants the messenger to start from a distant point to where the user is, then the charge is based accordingly.