§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements are being made to ensure the availability of aerogrammes at post offices for the use of families of service men abroad.
§ Mr. Leigh[holding answer 24 January 1991]: This is a joint operational matter for the Post Office and for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence. However, following the question raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Isle of Wight (Mr. Field) in the House on Wednesday 23 January at column 312, my Department has been in touch with both the Post Office and the Ministry of Defence. I understand that because of a sudden upsurge in demand for them, stocks of free forces aerogrammes have been exhausted in some isolated areas. However, the Ministry of Defence has now arranged for substantial further supplies to be made available to the Post Office, which is distributing them to areas of shortage as a matter of urgency.