HL Deb 26 May 1965 vol 266 cc829-30

2.25 p.m.

LORD ERROLL OF HALE

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

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps are being taken to prevent the growing use by the public of trading stamps for the purpose of franking letters and postcards.]

LORD HOBSON

My Lords, inquiries have not brought to light any evidence to suggest that trading stamps are either being increasingly used, or indeed used on any significant scale at all, in the way the noble Lord mentions. The Post Office's usual practice is to surcharge with double the deficient postage a postal packet bearing an adhesive label instead of a postage stamp; and my right honourable friend thinks this provides all the safeguard that is needed.

LORD ERROLL OF HALE

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for his reply, would he not agree that the present shortage of postage stamps is an added inducement to use trading stamps instead of postage stamps? And, secondly, is it not the case that automatic cancelling machines are unable to distinguish between a postage stamp and a trading stamp?

LORD HOBSON

My Lords, the answer to the latter part of the question is obviously, Yes. The subject of the first part of the question hardly arises.