§ 29. Mr. Goughasked the Postmaster-General what scale of charges he prescribes for redirecting telegrams which are wrongly addressed; whether this applies only to telegrams from overseas or, also, for inland messages; and whether he will set it out in full.
§ Mr. BevinsThe scale of charges applies to the redirection of inland telegrams as well as telegrams from overseas.
Following are the details:
The charges for redirection of telegrams are prescribed in the Telegraph (Inland Written Telegram) Regulations, 1954 (No. 976) and the Telegraph (British Commonwealth and Foreign Written Telegram) Regulations, 1950 (No. 1023). In summary they are:—
1. In general, a telegram which is redirected and re-transmitted from its original address, otherwise than by post, is treated as a fresh telegram to the address to which it is to be re-transmitted. Accordingly, the charges payable are:—
In practice, the additional charges prescribed for the priority and greetings service are not normally applied to redirected telegrams.
- (a) the ordinary telegraph rate or the overnight telegraph rate (whichever may be appropriate, without regard to the rate which was payable for original transmission);
- (b) an additional charge of 1s. 6d. if the telegram is tendered for transmission on a Sunday, or on Christmas Day or Good Friday in any part of the British Isles other than Scotland;
- (c) any additional charges due for transmission and delivery as a priority telegram or a greetings telegram.
No charge is made if a redirected telegram is sent by post.
2. If the new address is in another part of the same town or London postal district, 3s. regardless of the length of the telegram concerned. This charge is waived if the new address is nearby, or on the messenger's return route to the delivery office.
3. If the new address is overseas, the charge is assessed at the ordinary telegraph rate, or the letter or urgent telegraph rate (if available), as appropriate, to the particular destination concerned.