§ 18. Sir John Mellorasked the Postmaster-General if his attention has been drawn to postage stamps issued by the Argentine Government and designed with maps to emphasise Argentine pretensions to the Falkland Islands and Dependencies; and whether he will decline to accept for transmission by British postal services covers bearing such stamps as offensive propaganda.
§ Mr. Wilfred PalingThe answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir." As regards the second part, under the provisions of the Universal Postal Convention, the criterion for the prepayment of postage in the international postal service is that the postage stamps used must be valid in the country of origin; and it would neither be consistent with those provisions nor in the interests of the addressees to do as the hon. Member suggests.
§ Sir J. MellorIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that his indifference will be deeply resented by our fellow subjects in the Falkland Islands?
§ Mr. PalingI do not think there is any indifference at all. If I did what the hon. Member wishes I should have a lot of people in this country complaining.