On Her Majesty's Serviice

[Lowri]

I remember when all letters fron the DSS and other government departments always had the OHMS or On Her Majesty's Service accross the front of the envelope.
When did this last appear and why was it done away with?

[factor-fiction]

This explains:
http://www.lightstraw.co.uk/ohms/index.html

[dzug]

Not sure it has been done away with - I've certainly seen OHMS envelopes recently. Depends on the department involved, maybe?

[factor-fiction]

Yes, it is used for government departments. It's just that the main users of the OHMS envelopes in the past were DWP (probably when it was DHSS), HMRC (when it was Inland Revenue?), but these are no longer govt departments- they are now agencies.

[factor-fiction]

Well spotted redhelen. As you say, HMRC is still a government department, although it has no minister. I understand correct examples would be the many agencies serving Dept Of Transport (eg DVLA), DWP (CSA, Job Centre Plus), Treasury (NSand I), Prison Service, etc

[Peter Pedant]

yeah - ze Fransh for OHMS is

Service de Sa Majeste

(French Canadian) -I just felt you needed to know that