HC Deb 23 November 1967 vol 754 cc1465-7
16. Mr. Stratton Mills

asked the Postmaster-General why the names of Whittle and Baird were withdrawn from stamps showing British inventions; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Edward Short

The purpose of these stamps was to celebrate British achievements in which many people played a part. It was never my intention to commemorate individuals, however outstanding their contribution, and no question of withdrawing names from stamps arose.

Mr. Mills

Can the right hon. Gentleman clear up whether it was originally intended to have a stamp commemorating Whittle's and Baird's inventions, and if it was withdrawn—as the official reason given by the Post Office was—to avoid historical controversy, is not this an insult to British inventors?

Mr. Short

The hon. Gentleman is trying to make a great deal of nothing. Someone at a Press conference said that the names had been withdrawn. When a new stamp is being designed the printers submit many essays for me to see, and they make a number of changes in them and put on them various denominations, various types of print and so on, and we choose from them. On one of the essays the names appeared, but although Baird perfected the mechanical system, someone else perfected the electronic system; Whittle was the leader of a team; Fleming discovered the anti-bacterial properties of penicillin, but someone else applied them to human disease. Therefore, teams are involved in these things.

Mr. Bryan

I understand that the distinguished committee which used to advise the Postmaster-General on the issue of new stamps has been dissolved. Can the right hon. Gentleman say what are the new arrangements for advice?

Mr. Short

I dissolved the committee on 31st March because, although a distinguished committee which had given many years of very good service, it consisted entirely of designers, people nominated by the Council of Industrial Design. I felt that members of the general public, artists and Members of Parliament should be involved. I am now in the process of sending out letters to a number of ladies and gentlemen and hope that we shall assemble an equally distinguished committee to begin operating in the New Year.

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