§ 39. Mr. Onslowasked the Lord President of the Council what would be the saving to public funds if 50 per cent. of Members of Parliament's outward correspondence were sent by second-class mail.
§ Mr. Edward ShortThe Post Office charges the House for postage the same unitary rate it applies to Government use of the postal service, based on a sampling exercise last carried out in 1971. There would therefore be no immediate saving from the change proposed.
§ Mr. OnslowDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that hon. Members who wish to economise should be given the chance to do so? Why are we unable to obtain second-class envelopes for official correspondence from here? Why do we have to send out acknowledgement cards by first-class mail saying "The contents of your letter have been noted"? Why should circulars from such bodies as the Abortion Law Reform Association reach hon. Members by first-class mail when they could perfectly well come second class?
§ Mr. ShortI pointed out to the hon. Gentleman that what we pay for is a unitary rate, based on the assumption of a certain proportion between first-class and second-class mail. At the moment that is 27 per cent., so the amount we pay to the Post Office assumes that 27 per cent. of our letters go first class and the remainder second class.