HL Deb 20 October 1953 vol 183 cc1243-4

2.41 p.m.

VISCOUNT ELIBANK

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, having regard to the fact that many stamps of low values issued by Commonwealth and foreign Governments are pictorial stamps of a very attractive nature, whether there is any good reason why there should not be certain categories of British pictorial stamps of lower values than 2s. 6d. which would in like fashion portray to the world some of the scenic beauties and historical monuments of the British Isles.]

THE EARL OF SELKIRK

My Lords, the low value stamps, that is, stamps up to a value of 1s 6d., in their present size do not lend themselves to effective pictorial designs: larger stamps would cost rather more to produce, and would be much less convenient to business people who use them in large numbers. My noble friend has it in mind, however, to make more extensive use of pictorial designs in the higher value stamps of the new reign.

VISCOUNT ELIBANK

My Lords, I thank the noble Earl who has answered, but does he consider his reply a good reason against the introduction of lower value stamps of a small size? Is the noble Earl aware that I have here in my hand twenty-five examples of stamps of a low value issued by Commonwealth and other countries, of small size and of a pictorial nature? Will the noble Earl give further consideration to the issue of low denomination stamps of this kind, and not only of stamps of 1s. 6d. and over? If I may have the indulgence of the House, may I ask whether the noble Earl is aware that the British Travel Association, the Scottish Tourist Board and all the stamp societies in this country are heartily in favour of my proposal?

THE EARL OF SELKIRK

My Lords, I can assure the noble Viscount that my right honourable friend will consider any point which he makes. I imagine that the noble Viscount is not suggesting the omission from the small value stamps of the Monarch's head, which has invariably been included since the small stamps were first issued about 110 years ago. With the inclusion of the Monarch's head there is not much room on the stamp for an extensive pictorial design.

VISCOUNT ELIBANK

My Lords, I am unable to answer the noble Earl's question which he addressed to me. May I ask whether he is aware that I hold in my hand a copy of a stamp issued by Northern Rhodesia which shows the Monarch's head on it, and which is only slightly larger than our twopenny-half-penny stamp? I beg to give notice that I will raise this question on another date.