§ 3.4 p.m.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their attention has been drawn to the large number of small pictorial stamps of low values issued by British Commonwealth, Colonial and other countries in different parts of the world depicting their historical monuments and buildings, scenic beauties and other appropriate and attractive subjects; and what steps they propose to take to enable similar features in the United Kingdom to be portrayed to the world in extensive fashion on small British pictorial stamps of low values hearing the Sovereign's head.]
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, I have nothing to add to the information given in reply to the noble Viscount's many earlier Questions on this subject.
VISCOUNT ELIBANKMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his Answer, which is, as usual, of a most disappointing nature to many people throughout this country. Is the noble Lord aware, and is the Postmaster General aware, that I should not pursue this campaign for small pictorial stamps year after year unless I had supporting me the travel organisations in Scotland and in England and, as my Press cuttings show, large sections of the public in this country? And is he aware that I propose to continue this campaign until the Postmaster General sees the light?
LORD MERTHYRMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that there are in this House many noble Lords who, whilst admiring the past, present and future determination of the noble Viscount in this matter, nevertheless urge Her 1192 Majesty's Government not to succumb to the seductive blandishments of the noble Viscount, but to preserve the traditional form and design of the stamps in this country, which was, and is, the pioneer of philatelic decency and design.
§ LORD AILWYNMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the gentle persistence of the noble Viscount opposite in pursuing this matter and, I may say, one or two other matters, evokes great sympathy and understanding among some of us on this side of the House; and could he not be given some meed of encouragement to tide him at least over the Whitsun Recess?
§ LORD MACPHERSON OF DRUMOCHTERMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that there arc noble Lords on this side of the House who heartily support the noble Viscount, Lord Elibank, in the representations that he is making? I should like to support him, too, and to ask this question. How can we possibly get the Postmaster General to look at this matter again and to have regard to opinion on the subject in the country, and particularly the opinion and interest of the enormous number of stamp collectors in this country and the British Commmonwealth who would like to see this done?
LORD SALTOUNMy Lords, are Her Majesty's Government aware that there are many people in this country who realise that we inherited from our ancestors a really beautiful design and who will regret seeing it altered, even by reason of the thistle for special stamps for Scotland whose validity in England people sometimes doubt? If they are determined to paint the lily, will the Government, in considering the illustrating upon these small stamps of our beauty spots for the sake of visitors, consider also altering the state of the roads that are up in London at the present time?
VISCOUNT ELIBANKMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether he is aware that if the noble Lord, Lord Merthyr, and the noble Lord, Lord Saltoun, had the opportunity of seeing Press cuttings in favour of this proposal that I have had in the last five years they would alter their views on the subject? With the assent of the House, I would ask this further question. In order to test this matter. will the Postmaster General have 1193 designs of small pictorial stamps made of the nature of the designs which I exhibited to this House on May 16, 1956? And if he will not have those designs made, why will he not?
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, I am aware of one thing in particular: that it is rather unreasonable that I should be expected, and probably impossible for me to do to answer some seventeen supplementary questions which have been put in a never-ending cascade. I think I can say (and I hope I am not getting anything seriously wrong) that Her Majesty's Government, my right honourable friend and I are severally or collectively aware of most of the points that have been put. The point that we are not aware of is that there is this substantial demand for pictorial stamps in this country that the noble Viscount claims. I am certainly aware that there is support for the noble Lord on the Benches opposite. But I repeat that perhaps your Lordships would prefer to discuss this subject at greater length on a Motion at a later date—and the noble Viscount, Lord Elibank, as is usually the case, has one on the Order Paper. At the moment, there is no intention to depart from the present well-reasoned, attractive and well-liked stamp policy.
VISCOUNT ELIBANKMy Lords, with the assent of the House, I should like to ask the noble Lord to ask the Postmaster General whether he would agree to my proposition that he should have designs made of these stamps in order to see what they are like.
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, as a matter of courtesy to the noble Viscount—which one always hopes to extend in this House—I will certainly convey his request to my right honourable friend.