§ Mr. Harry Howarthasked the Postmaster-General for what reason sub-post offices are not issued with new commemorative postage stamps until a day after Crown post offices have received their supplies; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. StonehouseNormally we make a point of issuing new special stamps on the same date at all our post offices. In the exceptional circumstances of the recent Concorde issue I decided that the stamps must be put on sale on the earliest possible occasion after the aircraft had flown. We had very short notice of the flight date, which was on a Sunday, and it was unfortunately impracticable to make an advance distribution to sub-post offices. But stamps were supplied to as many of these offices as possible during the first day of issue (Monday).
§ Mr. Cordleasked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider a special stamp issue commemorating the work of the tourist industry in this country and its contribution to the economy.
§ Mr. StonehouseI will certainly include this in the list of suggestions from which the 1970 stamp programme will shortly be chosen.