HC Deb 17 February 1955 vol 537 cc84-6W
96. Mr. I. O. Thomas

asked the Minister of Defence if he will give favourable consideration to the introduction of special rates, cheaper than the ordinary scheduled rates, in respect of letters and newspapers and light parcels sent from this country by airmail to troops serving abroad.

Mr. H. Macmillan

A full statement of the facilities already available for sending letters, newspapers and parcels to Service men overseas, both by air and surface routes is given below. The House will see that the rates charged to Service men's families and friends are substantially lower than the ordinary postage rates. The subsidy involved (which also covers concessionary postage rates for correspondence in the homeward direction) is now running at a rate of about £1,800,000 a year.

POSTAGE RATES FOR CORRESPONDENCE AND PARCELS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM TO H.M. FORCES OVERSEAS WITH CORRESPONDING CIVILIAN RATES
EUROPE
—— H.M. Forces Civilians
BY AIR:
"All-up" services:
Letters:
Not exceeding 1 oz. … … 2½d. 4d.
Each additional oz. … … 1d. 2½d.
Postcards … … 2d. 2½d.
Air Parcels … … No special rates; but letters up to 4 lb. may be sent at above rates. Various rates according to destination. 1st lb. 2s. 9d. to 5s. 3d. Each additional lb. Is. 3d. to 4s. Od.
BY SURFACE ROUTE:
Parcels:
Not exceeding 2 lb. … … 1s. 3d. 2s. 6d. to 5s. 0d.
3 lb. … … 1s. 3d. 2s. 6d. to 7s. 0d.
7 lb. … … 2s. 3d. 4s. 3d. to 7s. 0d.
11 lb … … 3s. 6d. 6s. 3d. to 9s. 0d.
22 lb. … … 5s. 6d. 9s. 9d. to 15s. 6d.
Newspapers and Periodicals Other Printed Papers
Printed Papers:
Upto2 oz … … 1d. 1d. 1½d.
Each additional 1 oz. … … ½d. ½d. ½d.
Small Packets:
Each 2 oz. (minimum charge, 5d.) … 1d. Each 2 oz., l½d. (minimum charge, 7½d.).
OUTSIDE EUROPE
—— H.M. Forces Civilians
By Air:
Lightweight Forces Letters … … 2½d. Air Letters. 6d.
Middle East Malaya and Hong Kong Japan and Korea
Letters:
Up to 1½oz … … 6d. Per ½ oz.
Each additional ½ oz. … … 6d. 9d. 1s. 3d. 1s. 6d.
Postcards … … 3d. 5d. 8d. 9d.
Second Class Mail: Newspapers
Printed Papers—limit 6½lb … … — 3d. 4d. 5d.
Small Packets per i oz.—limit 2 lb. 3d. Other Second Class Mail
5d. 6d. 7d.
Air Parcels … … Packets up to 2 lb. may be sent as small Packets in the Second Class Mail, or up to 4 lb. as Letters (see above concessionary rate). Various rates according to destination—Examples: —
Egypt 2s. 9d. per ½ lb.
Malaya 8s. 9d. per ½ lb.
Japan 10s. 0d. per ½ lb.
By Surface Route:
Printed Papers … … As for Europe. As for Europe.
Small Packets … … As for Europe
Parcels … … Various according to destination.