HC Deb 18 May 1960 vol 623 c1251
2. Mr. Collard

asked the Postmaster-General if he will consider a reduction in the postage rates for the official journals of charitable organisations.

The Assistant Postmaster-General (Miss Mervyn Pike)

Much as I sympathise with the object of these organisations, I am sorry I cannot reduce the postage rates exceptionally for their official journals.

Mr. Collard

Is my hon. Friend aware that one of these charitable organisations, the Royal Air Forces Association, has to spend about £4,000 a year on postage in order to keep in touch with its members by means of its journal? Does not she agree that this is a very heavy burden?

Miss Pike

I appreciate the burdens upon such organisations, but we have to consider that the printed paper post is already running at a loss of about £1.8 million a year and the newspaper post at about £1.3 million. Even if I thought these postal concessions desirable, we just could not afford them.