HC Deb 22 January 1958 vol 580 cc1025-7
12. Mr. Emrys Hughes

asked the Postmaster-General what special postage stamps he proposes to issue in 1958 and 1959.

Mr. K. Thompson

Present plans for 1958 include special 3d., 6d. and 1s. 3d. stamps to mark the British Empire and Commonwealth Games. In addition, there is to be a new 4½d. stamp in the permanent series, new 3d., 6d. and 1s. 3d. stamps for Scotland, for Northern Ireland and for Wales; and a new 3d. stamp for Jersey, for Guernsey and for the Isle of Man. It is too early to say whether any special stamps will be issued in 1959.

Mr. Hughes

In view of the fact that the Minister has not made up his mind about 1959, will he undertake to look again at the request made by hon. Members on both sides of the House that a special commemorative stamp shall be printed to celebrate the bicentenary next year of Robert Burns? Is he aware that he has already departed from precedent by allowing a stamp to be issued for the British Empire Games and that Scots people think that Burns is as important as the British Empire Games? If he cannot do this, will the Minister have the imagination to arrange for bulk purchase of stamps from the Soviet Union and for them to be sold at British post offices?

Mr. Thompson

The hon. Gentleman and the House know that we have given very careful consideration to the problem of the Burns stamp. I endeavoured to state the Post Office reasons for the decision as clearly and as sympathetically as I could to hon. Members who came to see me, among whom was the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Emrys Hughes).

Mr. Gower

Will the commemoration stamp for the British Empire Games indicate clearly that the venue is in Wales, namely, Cardiff?

Mr. Thompson

Welsh Members and the citizens of Wales generally will not, I think, have any cause of complaint about the appearance of the new stamp when it is available.

Mr. C. R. Hobson

The reply of the hon. Gentleman to the Question of my hon. Friend the Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Emrys Hughes) indicates that the Post Office is issuing quite a number of new stamps of various denominations. Does not that indicate that there has been a departure from the normal principle, which was very conservative in the past? In view of that departure, will the Minister look again at the Question of my hon. Friend, in view of the fact that another country is issuing a commemorative stamp for the Burns bicentenary?

Mr. Thompson

I would not have your approval, Mr. Speaker, if I canvassed all the arguments of this case, but I should tell the House that we are aware of what other countries are doing. It gives us no reason to think that we must follow them. For example, it is not only Robert Burns that Russia is commemorating with a special stamp. There are other figures on their stamps which might not meet with such wide acceptance or approval from hon. Members. I should also tell the hon. Member for Keighley (Mr. C. R. Hobson) that we have not departed from the practice followed by the Post Office for more than 100 years of not issuing stamps to commemorate individuals.