§ LORD STRANGEMy 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 whether it is true that owing to the rise in printing costs their gummed economy labels now cost more than envelopes.]
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, the Answer is that it is not true.
§ LORD STRANGEMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his reply. Would he not agree that this practice, expedient fifty years ago, makes our Civil Service look very down-at-heel and out-at-elbow? Would he not further agree that, when more mechanisation comes into the Post Office, these gummed labels stuck on by furious taxpayers will tend to gum up the machinery? Is it not time that it came to an end?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, to the first question of the noble Lord, the answer is, No. The second question is, I think, rather hypothetical.