§ Mrs. Tateasked the Postmaster-General whether a decision has been reached with regard to including despatch dates on telegrams from Forces serving abroad?
§ Mr. GrimstonMy right hon. Friend realises that the omission of despatch dates from these telegrams seriously detracts from their value to the recipients at home. The date of handing-in is inserted in the delivered copy of telegrams from abroad whenever, as is normally the case, it is transmitted to this country with the text of the telegram. However, the authorities overseas sometimes cause the date to be omitted from the transmitted copy for reasons of security. There are cases in which the date appears on the delivered copy in a form which is unintelligible to the addressee. We hope, in collaboration with Cable and Wireless Ltd., to be able to devise a procedure which will obviate this altogether.