THE EARL OF MANSFIELDasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will confirm or deny that, when the new two-tier system of postal charges was instituted, local post- 798WA masters received written confidential instructions that they should deliberately hold back correspondence bearing fourpenny stamps for a prescribed period, even if the immediate forwarding of such correspondence would in no way cause any delay or interfere with the fivepenny mail; and if so, the exact terms of such instructions.
§ LORD BOWLESThe instructions provide for first-class mail to receive priority at all times. Second-class mail is designed as a slower service and is dealt with so as to minimise handling costs. However, there has never been any intension to delay second-class mail unnecessarily. After experience of the new service, the Post Office found that some of the instructions were unnecessarily restrictive and they have accordingly been relaxed.
House adjourned at fourteen minutes past seven o'clock.