asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether a full parcel service is now operated by the British Forces Post Office to locations situated in and around the Gulf. [HL3229]

Wherever possible, the British Forces Post Office (BFPO) provides a subsidised surface parcels service to personnel serving overseas in conjunction with Parcelforce, which can normally accept items up to 30 kilograms in weight, or 1 kilogramme if they are to be delivered to HM ships by air.

BFPO does not operate a parcels service to locations in and around the Gulf, as this would have the potential to overwhelm the supply system supporting operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. BFPO does, however, operate a subsidised airmail letter and small packet service, up to a maximum of 2 kilograms in weight, principally to forces deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan as part of the operational welfare package.