§ Mr. HICKS BEACHasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in view of the fact that the amount expended by national health insurance societies in postage of cards and communications to their members is very large and the amount allowed for management expenses is comparatively small, he will issue instructions that all communications on purely national insurance business may be posted free of charge?
§ Mr. MASTERMANFree postage facilities are confined to communications sent out from, or addressed by the public to, Government Departments and it would be impossible without serious danger to the revenue to extend them to communications which come under official scrutiny at neither end. As I explained in my reply to a question by the hon. Member on the 23rd instant, communications on official business addressed to the Insurance Commissioners may be posted free of charge.576W This means that a large part of the correspondence of approved societies and insurance committees, in fact, passes post free in the ordinary course.