HC Deb 16 March 1978 vol 946 c292W
Mr. Peter Walker

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in order to save the time of party workers and cost to the taxpayers, he will amend existing regulations so that the free post is still available to parliamentary candidates at the next General Election who address envelopes to an entire family using such captions as "The Smith Family" instead of having to address envelopes to each individual elector.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

Section 79(1) of the Representation of the People Act 1949 provides for a candidate at a parliamentary election to send an election communication free of charge to each elector. This right is subject to regulations which are made by the Post Office. A communication which contains documents for persons who are not electors would fall outside the provisions of Section 79(1), and it would require legislation to extend these provisions.

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