§ 4. Mr. Stanbrookasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will give a general direction to the Post Office Corporation to continue to make stamps available in the old denominations during the transitional period of decimalisation, in order to permit the accurate pre-payment of mail by the use of more than one stamp.
§ Mr. ChatawayNo, Sir. This is a management matter for the Post Office and a direction would be inappropriate.
§ Mr. StanbrookIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is a great shortage of old denomination stamps in South-East London and that grave injustice is being done to those people who have stocks of old denomination stamps still available?
§ Mr. ChatawayI do not think that any particular difficulties should arise. The Post Office, in laying down acceptable combinations of old and new stamps, has followed the Decimal Currency Board's shoppers' table.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergDoes my right hon. Friend realise that the Post Office charges 12½ per cent. or 15 per cent. commission to take back stocks of old stamps which could have been made up on "D" day but for the strike, which has caused people to spend more money than they need have done? Will he look at this again?
§ Mr. ChatawayI am sure that the Post Office will consider the point put by my hon. Friend, but he knows that the Post Office has always legitimately made a charge for cashing stamps since a cost is involved to the Post Office in doing this.