HC Deb 10 July 1958 vol 591 cc581-2
47. Mr. Emrys Hughes

asked the Prime Minister what considerations influenced him in rejecting the request made to him by the deputation representing the Burns Federation, and which consisted of Members on both sides of the House, that the refusal of the Government to issue a special stamp to commemorate the bicentenary of Robert Burns should be reconsidered.

The Prime Minister

The matter was reconsidered, but the Government felt unable to alter the decision. I will, with permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a copy of the letter which I sent to my hon. Friend the Member for Ayr (Sir T. Moore) on this subject.

Mr. Hughes

Is the Prime Minister aware that we have already seen that letter and, if Burns had written a letter so long containing so little, any demand for a bicentenary commemoration would not be necessary? Is the Prime Minister aware that it has caused great disappointment, especially to Mr. Macmillan, who was one of the leaders of the deputation, and that now that the Postmaster-General has issued three large stamps to celebrate the British Empire Games at Cardiff, he should agree to the modest request of the Burns Federation and give one stamp to honour literature in the same way as he is honouring sport?

The Prime Minister

This Question has been postponed from day to day by the misfortune of not being reached. I have been wondering what would be the supplementary question which would be prepared, and I must say that I think it quite a good one. I congratulate the hon. Member, but I have also prepared my supplementary answer. I would say to him, in the famous words: The rank is but the guinea's stamp, The man's the gowd for a' that.

Sir T. Moore

To come back to the original Question, does my right hon. Friend appreciate that I transmitted to the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Emrys Hughes) all the reasons which unfortunately persuaded my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to refuse our request and that, therefore, this Question is wholly superfluous?

Following is the letter:—

MY DEAR MOORE,

I am sorry that I have not written to you sooner to reply to the representations made by the deputation which you brought to see me on the issue of a special postage stamp to mark the bi-centenary of the birth of Robert Burns. My recent visit to Canada and the United States has meant that one or two matters had to be left until my return. The Government have considered this proposal with very great care and I have been into it in detail with the Postmaster General. We have reached the conclusion that we cannot reverse the decision which the Postmaster General took not to issue a special stamp.

I do not think it is necessary in this letter to rehearse all the arguments for and against this proposal. I would only say this: that I paid, and I know the Postmaster General did also, particular attention to what I think constituted one of your main arguments; that is that the objection that special stamps for one notable person would involve having to discriminate between other claimants for this honour does not really apply to Robert Burns, who holds a peculiar place in Scotland and indeed throughout the world. After reflection, however, and. I can assure you, with sympathy with this point of view I felt that the arguments against the issue of a stamp must prevail. I know that this decision will cause disappointment but I am convinced that it is the right one.

I would only add that the Postmaster General is considering what arrangements might possibly be made for a special franking of letters to commemorate the bi-centenary.

I should be grateful if you would convey this decision to those whom you brought with you to see me.

Yours very sincerely.

(Sgd) HAROLD MACMILLAN.