§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what reasons underline the absence of the royal cipher from the new Post Office postal boxes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. McLoughlinI understand from the Post Office that all cast iron post boxes installed by Royal Mail continue to bear the royal cipher or Scottish crown. Royal Mail has, however, introduced a range of polypropylene boxes without these emblems. These boxes are installed in street locations to assist postal delivery staff and are not normally intended to have any public posting function. On occasions, however, these boxes have been installed on a temporary trial basis to assess particular posting needs. Where it is subsequently decided to introduce a permanent facility a cast iron box is installed.