§ 19. Sir J. Langford-Holtasked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament is a body with purely political aims, and in view of the fact that it franks letters with the words "Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament," he will take steps to see that the use of this frank is discontinued.
§ Miss PikeThis particular frank incorporates the title and symbol of the organisation concerned and was supplied to it some years ago by our agents. As I told my hon. Friend on 22nd May, it is used by the organisation on its own correspondence only.
§ Sir J. Langford-HoltWill my hon. Friend be assured that I am not getting at this organisation on political grounds, but that the point at issue is whether, for purely political reasons, political propaganda should be made use of in the Royal Mail?
§ Miss PikeI do not think that the use of the name of the organisation strictly comes under the heading of political propaganda. It is the name of the organisation and, on those grounds, we consider that it would probably be unwise to go further in the matter.
§ Mr. S. SilvermanIs it not the case that the use of the words "political propaganda" in this connection usually means not questions that have a broad political significance but questions of party political propaganda? Is it not clear that this organisation is not limited to a single party and that its aim, which is to discredit the use of 1261 nuclear weapons throughout the world, is one that it is in the public interest to popularise?
§ Miss PikeI cannot accept what the hon. Gentleman says, but I would again repeat to the House that it is the name of the organisation and that the organisation is quite at liberty to print it on its envelopes if it so wishes. My own personal view is that we should, perhaps, leave the matter as it is.