§ Mr. RandallTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to review the provision of free postage for troop parcels for forces serving in Iraq. [167998]
§ Mr. IngramI refer the hon. Member to my written ministerial statement of 27 February 2004,Official Report, column 70WS, and subsequent answers of 5 March 2004, Official Report, column 1155W, to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock), and 1 April 2004, Official Report, column 1605W, to the hon. Member for Mid-Norfolk (Mr. Simpson).
A series of reviews were undertaken by the Ministry of Defence between July 2003 and February 2004 which concluded that the scheme should be extended to April 2004 when it was judged that the complete Operational Welfare Package and Expeditionary Forces Institute support would be in place. There are no further plans to review the provision of free postal packets to the Iraq theatre of operations.
I should also point out that the British Forces Post Office rate for a 2 kg postal packet to Iraq (equivalent to 1527W the Royal Mail First Class Inland Rate) was £7.23. From 1 April 2004 the Royal Mail Group has reduced this charge to £6.89 and the British Forces Post Office has reduced its charge in line with this.