§ 8. Mr. Gerald Williamsasked the Postmaster-General how long postage stamps of old designs and colour will be valid for postage and revenue purposes.
§ The Postmaster-General (Mr. Ness Edwards)All postage stamps issued during King George V's Reign and since are still valid. Stamps issued during the present Reign will remain valid for many years.
§ 9. Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Mooreasked the Postmaster-General the financial result so far of the introduction of the new series of stamps.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsI am not in a position to make any reliable estimate of the financial result.
§ Sir T. MooreApart from that, in view of the confusion to both the public and Post Office officials alike, can the right hon. Gentleman really justify this change?
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsYes, Sir. I am rather surprised at the hon. and gallant Member taking that view. After all, this country has always been known for its alacrity in conforming with international conventions. We were bound to do it in this case.
§ 13. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Postmaster-General how much revenue his Department has lost by reason of the recent change in the colour of postage stamps.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsNo figures are available, but I have no reason to suppose that revenue has been lost because of the changes in the colours of the ½d. to 2½d postage stamps.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterArising from the latter part of that answer, will the Postmaster-General reconsider the position if I send him the result of an experiment which consisted of sending a number of letters, stamped, totalling only 1d., With different coloured combinations of stamps, all of which were delivered to an address in London without any surcharge, and does his answer mean that he is surreptitiously re-introducing the 1d. post?
§ 14. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Postmaster-General how many 5s. and 2s. 6d. books of stamps were issued in 1950: whether it is his intention to alter the proportion of stamps in subsequent issues and to provide some 1½d. stamps; and whether he will issue a 10s. book.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsThe numbers are: 5s. books, 9½ million; 2s. 6d. books, 42¼ million. The question of altering the composition of books of stamps and of including l½d. stamps in them is under consideration. I do not think there would be a sufficient demand for 10s. books to justify the cost of and added complication in production and stocking.
§ Mr. FreemanIn view of the popularity of these books and of their great convenience to all concerned, will my right hon. Friend consider placing notices in all post offices drawing attention to their availability, as there are still many people who do not know that these books are in use?
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsWe have already sold 55 million in a year which is a good indication that the public are aware of them.
§ Mr. GammansWould it be illegal to sell these books of stamps at cut-price rates?
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsIt would not be legal to contravene the provisions made by the House.