§ Mr. Hayhoeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average estimated value of the free post facility per candidate at the last General Election; and what was the comparable figure at the first General Election after the introduction of the £150 deposit.
§ Mr. JohnIn October 1974 the cost of free postage for candidates' election addresses was £2,114,621, which gives an average of about £939 for each of the 2,252 candidates. The number of candidates in December 1918—when the £150 deposit was introduced—was 1,623, but information on the cost of free postage at that election is not available.