HC Deb 26 February 1964 vol 690 cc413-6
14. Sir C. Osborne

asked the Postmaster-General, in view of the fact that certain postage stamps include the St. Andrew's flag of Scotland and others the Welsh Dragon, if he will incorporate the flag of St. George on the stamps to be issued to commemorate Shakespeare's 400th birthday anniversary, in view of the fact that this was the only national flag known to Shakespeare; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mawby

No, Sir. The designs of the Shakespeare stamps have in general been warmly welcomed, and it is in any case too late to consider any alteration now.

Sir C. Osborne

Is my hon. Friend aware that I am bitterly disappointed with that Answer? Why cannot an Englishman see his own flag exhibited in his own country in honour of his own great poet?

Mr. Mawby

We should keep this in perspective. I do not think that any of us want to be little Englanders. We are part of the British Isles. There are obviously distinguishing markings for regional stamps. This is a good thing, but the general issue of stamps bears no mark of any description, whether it be England, Scotland, or Wales, and I think that we ought to get down to the business of trying to live closer together in harmony.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

Is not there a danger of too much crowding on this stamp? Will the Minister consider taking off the Queen's head and giving William Shakespeare a chance?

Sir J. Duncan

Does my hon. Friend realise that these stamps are not altogether welcomed, in particular the one which puts the figure of Bottom next to the Queen's head?

27. Mr. Gourlay

asked the Postmaster-General what are the total costs involved in preparing the designs of the various stamps issued in connection with the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare.

Mr. Mawby

The cost of preparing the designs for the five Shakespeare Festival stamps was £3,835.

Mr. Gourlay

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, while we do not begrudge the philatelic recognition of William Shakespeare, it makes the refusal of his right hon. Friend to issue a commemorative stamp for Robert Burns an added insult to Scotland? Does he not agree that the cost of issuing such a commemorative stamp would not be a financial embarrassment to the Post Office, and will he reconsider his previous decision and issue a commemorative stamp for Robert Burns next January?

Mr. Mawby

I hope that the hon. Gentleman was in his place earlier when, in answer to other Questions, I outlined the stamp Policy of the Post Office. I pointed out that we must keep a proper balance. As to the issuing of a commemorative stamp for Robert Burns, I said earlier, and I repeat, that if there are the sort of celebrations for Burns that there now are for Shakespeare—[Interruption.]—I will seriously consider it, but we must maintain a balance.

Mr. Manuel

Come to Scotland.

Mr. Mawby

As I said earlier, we celebrate only postal and Royal anniversaries, although we do celebrate important events. [Interruption.] I am prepared to consider at any time, when evidence can be brought forward to me, the commemoration of any special event. It is also important that I should point out that the total cost of producing the Shakespeare stamps, including printing, will be about £14,000, but we estimate that the philatelic revenue will be about £150,000 to £300,000.

Mr. Clark Hutchison

Will my hon. Friend in future keep special issues to the very minimum and bear in mind that this is Great Britain and not a South American Republic?

Mr. Gourlay

Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that the birth of Robert Burns is celebrated in practically every country every year? What difference is there between the Shakespeare Festival and the 200th anniversary of Robert Burns some years ago for the purpose of recognition?

Mr. Mawby

I was not here when that anniversary was celebrated and therefore I am not aware of the form that the celebrations took. All I am saying is that if there are celebrations of the nature of those being held this year for Shakespeare I will seriously look at the question.

31. Mr. Emrys Hughes

asked the Postmaster-General, in view of the popularity of the stamps commemorating the 400th anniversary of the birth of William Shakespeare, if he will now consider issuing other stamps in commemoration of other writers.

Mr. Mawby

The Shakespeare stamps are being issued to mark the large number of festivals and exhibitions being held this year to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the writer's birth. Taken together, these will constitute an outstanding current event fully warranting a special stamp issue. If any other writer were to be similarly commemorated, we should be prepared to consider the issue of special stamps to mark the occasion.

Mr. Hughes

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that our case is so overwhelming that we are prepared to have the Prime Minister, who is a Scottish Member, as arbiter of whether there should or should not be a Burns stamp? Does the hon. Gentleman realise that the Prime Minister actually quoted Robert Burns when speaking on television in Moscow and that people wanted to know why there was not a stamp for Robert Burns?

Mr. Mawby

I take the hon. Gentleman's point, but, of course, it is fortunate that British history can show so many distinguished figures in literature, science and the arts and their number is obviously so great that, without some such criterion as our policy provides, we should have the invidious task of choosing among them.

Sir J. Duncan

In view of the unpopularity of the Shakespeare stamp in my constituency, will my hon. Friend see to it that, if the stamp is to be distributed in Scotland, the ordinary stamp will be available also?

37. Mr. Emrys Hughes

asked the Postmaster-General if he will consider issuing a special book of Shakespeare stamps.

Mr. Mawby

We are looking into the hon. Member's suggestion, and I will write to him as soon as possible.

Mr. Hughes

I am very glad to receive that slight concession. Can the hon. Gentleman assure us that he will pay not the slightest attention to the hon. Member for South Angus (Sir J. Duncan) who is against Bottom the Weaver because he belonged to the working class? Is he aware that people will be coming to this country this summer from all parts of the world and that he will make a huge profit if he issues a special handy form of booklet of Shakespeare stamps?

Mr. Mawby

To be fair to my hon. Friend, I think that he was not referring to Bottom's affiliation but rather to his name as a word. I think that this was his meaning and he meant no slur on the class of people to which the hon. Gentleman and I belong.