HC Deb 16 July 1973 vol 860 cc13-4
11. Mr. Freeson

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will seek powers to prevent the distribution by the Post Office Corporation of mail bearing postage stamps which carry warlike and politically propagandist messages.

Sir J. Eden

No, Sir. The Post Office already has powers to deal with a wide variety of prohibited items but the stamps which I believe the hon. Member has in mind do not infringe any postal regulations.

Mr. Freeson

Is that not just the point that the right hon. Gentleman is missing? Has his attention been drawn to the stamps issued by the Egyptian authorities and circulating in this country and elsewhere, which are deeply offensive not only to people who hold different views from those of the Egyptian authorities, but to the whole spirit in which the International Postal Union has operated over 100 years? Will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider the matter? I recognise his difficulties, but he should at least make representations in the right quarters. We do not like this kind of conduct in respect of the issue of postage stamps by any country.

Sir J. Eden

I have seen the stamps in question and I understand that they give rise to considerable offence. The normal recourse in cases of this kind is for the principal injured party to lodge a protest with the International Bureau of the UPU and to request that that protest be circulated to all member countries. My understanding is that no such circular has yet been received in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Lipton

Is the Minister saying that no matter how offensive a foreign stamp may be to British standards of public decency he will take no action?

Sir J. Eden

No, Sir. The stamps do not at this stage infringe any United Kingdom postal regulations. It is a matter that should be raised through the UPU procedures. [Interruption.] It is not for me to raise it. It is a matter for the country that feels aggrieved by the practice—and I fully understand why it should so feel.

Mr. Gregor Mackenzie

While the right hon. Gentleman's mind is concentrated on stamps and postmarks, will he tell the Post Office that the slogan on many letters celebrating what is called the Anglo Portuguese 600 hundred years of friendship causes a great deal of offence to many people in this country and takes away much from the impartiality of the Post Office? We should be grateful if he would raise the matter with the Post Office.

Sir J. Eden

We shall always find that the marking of almost any anniversary gives offence in some quarter or other. I think that it is fitting that such an anniversary as the hon. Gentleman has referred to should be marked.