asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider the advisability of making the postage rates between Britain and France the same as for inland correspondence?

I will consider the possibility of a reduction in the postage rates between the two countries in consultation with the French Administration.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider giving the same concession to evacuee children desiring to write to their parents as is already granted to correspondence with the British Expeditionary Force?

I regret that the difficulties involved would make it impracticable to operate such a concession. There is the further consideration that a concession in this case would evoke claims for similar treatment from other classes of the community who feel that they are equally entitled to special consideration.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that it would greatly facilitate voluntary evacuation if this comfort were given to mothers, so that they could have closer contact with their children?

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider allowing French soldiers stationed in this country to send their letters to France free, as is the law in their own country?

I have already made arrangements to accord the concession which my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind. The concession covers unregistered letters up to 1 oz. in weight, and postcards, and corresponds with the concession already allowed by the French Post Office to British troops in France not served by our Army Post Office.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will take similar action to reduce the postal rate on parcels sent to members of His Majesty's forces in Egypt as was taken in regard to the British Expeditionary Force?

I think my hon. Friend must be under some misapprehension, because the reduced postage rates for parcels and correspondence sent to members of the British Expeditionary Force apply also to parcels and correspondence for all of His Majesty's Forces abroad, including His Majesty's ships in foreign waters.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can give comparative figures showing the number of letters and postcards and the receipts for postage stamps before and since the introduction of the increased postage charges for any convenient period?

The statistics asked for will not be available for some time yet; but I gave an indication of the postal revenue position in my reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Westhoughton on 22nd May, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

Do not these figures show the desirability of reconsidering the question of increased postal charges, which are causing more annoyance than they are worth?

The reply to which I have referred indicates that, although there has been a decrease in the volume of postal business, it has been less than that which was estimated in the Budget statement.