Mr. Robert Watt:

This allowance was introduced at a time when franking was a new activity. The person assigned to the task was paid an allowance for undertaking this work in addition to his or her other duties. It is a legacy work practice which is perhaps dated. This allowance falls into the category of having to be amalgamated in some way. Like the Deputy some people would wonder why a person should be paid an allowance for doing something which should now be an integral part of his or her work. I do not know the history of that allowance but I am sure there was some deal done, which was part of an attempt to modernise the manner in which the postal system in the Civil Service operated. I imagine that is what happened.