HC Deb 15 February 1971 vol 811 c351W
Mr. Skinner

asked the Lord President of the Council (1) if he will issue instructions to prevent mail, other than internal mail, being circulated within the House of Commons;

(2) what steps he is taking in relation to the delivery of consignments of mail from other than Governmental bodies to the House of Commons by persons other than postmen;

(3) whether the arrangements which he has made for the House of Commons internal mail includes arrangements for correspondence from the Derbyshire County Council; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Whitelaw

No mail, other than that delivered by hand, is being circulated. The normal rule that only a letter to one Member can be accepted for delivery by hand has been relaxed to a certain degree depending on urgency. The authorities of the House are keeping a note of the senders of non-urgent letters who have been persuaded to wait to see whether and when normal postal services are likely to be resumed in case the letters become urgent. Nothing is known of any correspondence from the Derbyshire County Council, as no record is kept of the letters accepted.