HC Deb 14 December 1960 vol 632 cc401-2
45. Mr. Collard

asked the Postmaster-General if he will extend to two months the minimum interval at which journals of charitable organisations must be published in order to qualify for registration as newspapers, and so enjoy reduced postal rates.

Miss Pike

No, Sir. The newspaper post is already running at a heavy loss and I am sorry that I should not be justified in adding to this by doing as my hon. Friend suggests.

Mr. Collard

Is my hon. Friend aware that such an extension would be a great boon to such charitable organisations as the Royal Air Force Association, whose journal is published every other month, though in every other respect it complies with the regulations for registration as a newspaper?

Miss Pike

I recognise the good grounds on which my hon. Friend asks for this concession. But the great difficulty is that if we give a concession in this respect there are very many other educational and charitable journals which would wish to have it. In view of the great loss on these mails, we do not feel justified in doing it at the present time.