§ Mr. Boothbyasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that friends and relatives in Great Britain of French soldiers serving with the French Army at the front, find it impossible to send parcels to these soldiers without subjection to cumbersome formalities here, and without liability to customs duties in France; and whether he can arrange that such parcels can be despatched under the same conditions as those applying to gifts sent to British soldiers?
§ Major TryonParcels for French soldiers serving in France are at present subject to the same conditions as parcels for civilians in France, whereas those for British troops are dealt with by the British Army Post Office under special simplified arrangements. The question of a relaxation of the regulations in the case of parcels for French soldiers is one for the Board of Trade so far as concerns British export restrictions, and for the French authorities as regards French Customs formalities in France; and I am looking into the matter to see whether any simplification is possible.
§ Captain Pluggeasked the Postmaster-General whether the revised scale of postal rates to British troops in France can equally apply to French soldiers in the field?
§ Major TryonParcels for French Troops serving in France are transmitted through the French Post Office under the 1429W same conditions as apply to parcels for civilians in France; and I regret that it is not possible to apply to them the same rates as apply to parcels for the British Expeditionary Force.