§ LORD FRASER OF LONSDALEasked Her Majesty's Government:
- 1. Whether they will give further details as to the concession granted by the International Postal Union for free postage of a recorded tape letter when it is authenticated by a designated charity for the blind;
176 - 2. In connection with the international post, and if a similar concession is made within the United Kingdom, whether a label issued, by a designated charity such as the R.N.I.B. or St. Dunstan's, given in advance to a blind person for use at home and affixed to the package by him (thus saving him from the trouble and delay of sending the record to a designated charity for authentication) would be acceptable.
§ LORD DENHAMUnder the terms of the Universal Postal Convention, to which the United Kingdom is a party, literature for the blind is exempt from surface postage in the international service. Tape recordings are included in this category if sent via recognised institutions for the blind. Although the Convention does not require signatory countries to extend similar concessions to literature for the blind sent by airmail, the British Post Office has for many years accepted such literature for despatch abroad by air at much reduced postage rates. The arrangements for operating these services, and the comparable inland service for articles for the blind, are the responsibility of the Post Office, which will, I understand, write to the noble Lord on the points he has raised.