HC Deb 30 June 1965 vol 715 cc610-1
16. Lord Balniel

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that envelopes which have been delivered to households in Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield are overprinted with offensive words suggesting that the recipients are bad debtors; and if he will take steps to ensure that such envelopes are not delivered.

Mr. Joseph Slater

I know of the circumstances to which my noble Lord refers. But my right hon. Friend does not think the words in question are, on the face of them, grossly offensive within the meaning of Section 11 of the Post Office Act, 1953, and he cannot, therefore, agree to do as the noble Lord asks. Whether the words may be grossly offensive when considered in relation to a particular addressee, the Post Office is not in a position to decide: but it is, of course, always open to an aggrieved party to start proceedings under the Post Office Act if he wishes.

Lord Balniel

May I assure the hon. Gentleman that these words are grossly offensive? Is he aware that envelopes have been delivered in Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City with printed on them in large red letters: Bad debt collecting service. We only call on those who do not pay. I know that at least three of my constituents are most certainly not debtors and I am advised that they have a claim for damages for libel. As it is very probable that by delivering these letters the Post Office has made itself a party to the libel, will the hon. Gentleman go into this matter again and more sympathetically?

Mr. Slater

In spite of what the hon. Gentleman says about being advised that these words are libellous, and—

Lord Balniel

By lawyers.

Mr. Slater

—it is not for me to say whether they are, although I realise that in certain circumstances the words could give serious offence, I am advised that, without knowledge of the circumstances relating to each recipient, it could not be said that on the face of them they were necessarily grossly offensive within the meaning of the Post Office Act.

Mr. Gibson-Watt

Even though these words may not be libellous, they are certainly offensive. Ought not the hon. Gentleman to take them seriously and look at the matter again?

Mr. Slater

I am just as serious about this matter as anybody else and I agree that on the face of it it looks as though the words are grossly offensive, but I am advised by the legal department that they cannot be said to be offensive within the meaning of the Post Office Act.