§ 42. Mr. FREEMANasked the Postmaster-General how many books of 796 stamps at 2s. and 3s., separately, were sold during each year since their inception; and whether be will consider the desirability of issuing one at 5s.
§ The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Viant)The answer to the first part of the question contains a number of figures and with the hon. Member's permission I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. As regards the second part I will arrange experimentally for the issue of a 5s. book of stamps.
§ Mr. MARLEYIs the hon. Gentleman only going to issue one book of stamps at 5s. as suggested in the question?
§ Following is the answer:
§ Full particulars of the sales of 2s. books, which were first issued in 1904, are not available. In 1904, 1,000,000 books were sold and in 1913 the number had risen to 7,000,000.
§ Since 1921 the figures have been roughly:
| — | 2s. books. | 3s. books (first issued 1924). | ||
| 1921 | … | … | 11,880,000 | — |
| 1922 | … | … | 10,580,000 | — |
| 1923 | … | … | 10,990,000 | — |
| 1924 | … | … | 7,860,000 | 7,730,000 |
| 1925 | … | … | 7,770,000 | 10,490,000 |
| 1926 | … | … | 8,540,000 | 10,860,000 |
| 1927 | … | … | 10,270,000 | 11,530,000 |
| 1928 | … | … | 12,130,000 | 12,140,000 |
| 1929 | … | … | 13,360,000 | 12,159,000 |
| 1930 | … | … | 14,760,000 | 12,320,000 |