§ Sir R. Gowerasked the Postmaster-General (1) what steps he has taken to bring to the notice of relatives of men serving in the Merchant Navy that they must only send letters to them care of the 793W head office of the shipping companies concerned; and whether, in view of the fact that a large number of letters still have to be returned to relatives because these instructions are not carried out, he will take additional steps to bring this matter to the notice of all concerned;
(2) whether he is aware of the fact that a large number of letters addressed by relatives to men serving in merchant ships are wrongly addressed by them to the ship at some port with the result that they all have to be returned to the senders with instructions that such letters must be sent care of the head office of the shipping companies concerned; and whether, in view of the unnecessary labour and hardship this involves, he will arrange to give publicity to the procedure which must be followed both through the medium of the British Broadcasting Corporation, post offices, and the newspapers?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonNotices have already been published in the newspapers to the effect that letters addressed to men serving in merchant ships, except ships taken up for naval or military service, must be addressed to them care of the shipowners or their agents in this country, and not to the ship at a port at which it is expected to call. Special arrangements have been made to enable the shipowners or their agents to forward this correspondence to the addressees. Letters which are incorrectly addressed to a ship at a foreign port are returned to the senders in order that they may be made fully aware of the correct procedure. Letters addressed to men serving in merchant ships which have been taken up for naval or military service must be addressed to them care of the General Post Office, London, and they are forwarded by the Post Office to the addressees at locations furnished by the Ministry of Shipping. I am about to issue a brochure giving full particulars regarding the method of addressing letters to men serving in merchant ships. This brochure has been prepared in collaboration with the other Departments concerned. It will be obtainable at the principal post offices; and, when it is ready, I will issue a notice in the Press and through the medium of the British Broadcasting Corporation.