asked the Secretary of State for Social Services under what circumstances catalogues advertising men's and women's fashions have recently been sent to members of the public in prepaid envelopes of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

A small number of postage-paid envelopes issued by Her Majesty's Stationery Office to a firm which undertakes contract mailing, for use in the distribution of a national insurance leaflet on behalf of my Department, were surplus to requirements. Instead of being returned as they should have been, they were inadvertently used by the firm on another, commercial, mailing. The firm has apologised and steps have been taken to ensure that the error is not repeated. The cost of postage has not in fact fallen on public funds.