HC Deb 06 June 1945 vol 411 cc911-2W
Sir G. Jones

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that the rate of postage for printed matter was a halfpenny for two ounces when the present limit of election expenses was enacted, but is now one penny; that candidates usually make two deliveries to electors, one by hand and the other by free post; that in many constituencies, owing to labour shortage, no delivery can be made by hand, that there has been an increase in the price of various other election expenses and that the present statutory limit of election expenses is too low to allow of a paid postage of one penny, he will take the necessary steps to allow a second postage to be free or at a reduced rate of one halfpenny.

Sir D. Somervell

This would require legislation which in present circumstances is I am afraid impracticable. I would remind my hon. Friend that the Speaker's Conference did not make a recommendation on the lines he suggests.