asked the Attorney-General what instructions have been issued to his Department and to the Lord Chancellor's Department as to the use of first-class mail; and whether he will issue appropriate directions to ensure that only urgent letters are sent first class.

Both in my epartment and in that of my noble Friend the attention of staff has on several occasions been drawn to the need for economy in the use of postal services. The principle followed is that the cheaper second-class is used except where there is judged to be a clear need for the faster but more expensive first-class post. The latest instruction on the subject was issued last month.