HC Deb 19 June 1996 vol 279 cc480-1W
Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on postage in the financial years 1994–95 and 1995–96; and how many items were posted during these periods. [32846]

Mr. Soames

This is a matter for the Defence Postal and Courier Services Agency, DPCS under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from T. McG. Brown to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 19 June 1996:

As Chief Executive of the Defence Postal and Courier Services Agency, I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt. Hon. Michael Portillo MP, regarding postal costs.As well as those costs borne by this Agency many Individual units and establishments are responsible for their own postal expenditure. The costs in 1994/95 and 1995/96 was as follows:

£ million
1994–95 1995–96
DPCS Agency costs 0.744 1.441
Costs in other MOD areas 7.288 6,363
Total 8.062 7.804

I am sorry but MOD does not record separately the number of items posted. Indeed in the interests of economy we try to make the maximum use of contract postal arrangements, which do not necessarily depend on the number of items posted.

I hope this information is helpful.