§ 2.35 p.m.
§ THE EARL OF KINNOULLMy 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 they will consider issuing an airmail postage stamp to illustrate the railway electrification equipment which, with the achievement of electrification in this country, is now available for export.]
§ LORD SORENSENMy Lords, my right honourable friend announced his stamp programme for next year on October 26. I understand also that he intimated in another place that he would issue stamps to mark the achievement of free trade within EFTA, and pictorial stamps depicting British flora, paintings and discoveries; and, further, that he will again issue Christmas stamps. I understand also that some 50 different suggestions have been made to him but that he cannot do otherwise than as I have stated. Therefore, he does not feel able to add to the list special stamps marking the subject suggested by the noble Lord. In any case, it is not Her Majesty's Government's policy to issue airmail stamps as such. I think I can assure the noble Lord that, although the Postmaster General does not completely stamp on the idea, nevertheless, for the time being he must adhere to his decision.
§ THE EARL OF KINNOULLMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for his reply, may I ask whether he could undertake to call upon his Department to reconsider this decision, in recognition of the fact that this is a great British 492 achievement which has brought the manufacturers of this equipment to the forefront of world markets, and that they may have a chance to compete with exports abroad?
§ LORD SORENSENMy Lords, I am sure the whole House appreciates the reference made by the noble Lord to the remarkable achievement, and I will certainly see that his suggestion is brought to the attention of the Postmaster General for any reconsideration on his part that is possible.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, is my noble friend aware of the very great appreciation among a large number of our people of the colour, imagination and beauty which has been brought into "stampage" since we had a change of Postmaster General—and I am referring not to the recent change but to the previous one.
§ LORD SORENSENMy Lords, I acknowledge the compliment given by my noble friend; and I am sure that it is not due to the fact that one of the colours is red.
LORD SALTOUNMy Lords, will Her Majesty's Government remember the promise given to me by my noble friend Lord De La Warr many years ago, when he was Postmaster General, to the effect that when these large stamps are issued to commemorate some public event of this kind they will always have stamps of the normal size available for customers at the post offices, on the ground that it is quite intolerable that some young man who has to get his mail off through the post by licking stamps himself should have to expend twice as much spit?
§ LORD SORENSENMy Lords, I will make inquiries to see whether Her Majesty's Government do remember the conversation which the noble Lord had with the noble Earl, Lord De La Warr.
LORD SALTOUNMy Lords, if I may correct the noble Lord, it was not a conversation; it was a promise made in this House.
§ LORD SORENSENMy Lords, I will certainly emphasise that, as well.
§ BARONESS HORSBRUGHMy Lords, may I ask the Minister whether he is aware that some people would prefer fewer issues of all these peculiar stamps 493 and that we should keep to the usual stamp with Her Majesty's portrait in full?
§ LORD SORENSENMy Lords, without necessarily endorsing the adjective "peculiar", which itself is rather peculiar, I certainly agree that all of us appreciate Her Majesty's portrait on the stamp, as well as the other decorations.
§ LORD STRANGEMy Lords, is it possible to have a better flavour to the gum?