asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what instructions he has issued to his Department as to the use of first-class mail; and whether he will issue appropriate directions that only urgent letters are sent first class.

We have standing instructions to ensure that effective and economic use is made of the two-tier system. We follow the principle that the cheaper second-class service should be used except when there is judged to be a clear need for the faster but more expensive first-class post.