HC Deb 11 February 1943 vol 386 cc1461-2W
Captain Mott-Radclyffe

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the distress of the relatives and friends of men serving in the forces in North Africa, who have for some time been sending airgraphs to these men, at the announcement that there is no airgraph service to North Africa; and why they were not so informed at the time of the despatch of the airgraphs?

Sir J. Grigg

For security reasons ail letters for North Africa go under an Army Post Office number. The destinations covered by these numbers cannot be disclosed to the Post Offices up and down the country, who must therefore accept airgraphs without knowing whether there is an airgraph service to these destinations or not. If there is no airgraph service the airgraph is sent by ordinary surface mail and the sender is advised by post-card that this has been done. Preparations are, however, in hand to establish an airgraph service between this country and North Africa.