HL Deb 24 July 1968 vol 295 cc1042-4

2.23 p.m.

LORD AIREDALE

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 whether they have observed that in artificial light there is a confusing similarity between the colouring of the 4d. and 1d. stamps in 10s. stamp books; and whether they will have this situation remedied.]

LORD BOWLES

My Lords, the colours of the new stamps were carefully chosen, and my right honourable friend the Postmaster General considers that the difference in shade between the 1d. and 4d. stamps is sufficient to enable them to be distinguished in artificial light.

LORD AIREDALE

My Lords, I am obliged to the noble Lord for that Answer, but would not the Government undertake to give us back our bright red 1d. stamps, provided that I give a corresponding undertaking to urge the next Administration to give us back our true blue 4d. stamps?

LORD BOWLES

My Lords, I think the position is that many years ago all letters all over the world were posted under a red stamp and all postcards under a green stamp, but inflation has made a difference and we are now having a great variety of coloured stamps, which I think appeal to people. I wonder whether the noble Lord, in his artificial light days, had noticed two things on the current stamps: first, Her Majesty's head, and, secondly, the price of the stamp? I think they are really most attractive and the price is quite clear.

LORD AIREDALE

My Lords, I do not quite know what the noble Lord means by my "artificial light days". I should hope that they will be some way ahead.

LORD BOWLES

My Lords, it is overhead now.

LORD BOWDEN

My Lords, is not the answer to the noble Lord that we must look before we lick?

LORD BLYTON

My Lords, can my noble friend say whether the Government cater for colour blindness?

LORD BOWLES

My Lords, I do not know how colour blind my noble friend is, but in fact I went into the question of colour blindness and I understand that people who are colour blind find it much more difficult to distinguish red from green than between different shades of brown.

LORD ALLERTON

My Lords, it may not be quite relevant to the Question, but may I ask the purpose of the outsize stamps which appear from time to time?

LORD BOWLES

My Lords, I think they are big because they are more valuable in the amount that has to be paid for them. The 2s. 6d., 5s., 10s. and the £1 stamps are much bigger in size than the ordinary postal stamp that we use.

BARONESS WOOTTON OF ABINGER

My Lords, it is all very well for my noble friend to say that his right honourable friend the Postmaster General finds these stamps are clearly distinguishable, but the fact remains that to the noble Lord, Lord Airedale, myself, and a large number of other people they are not so distinguishable, and I hope he will take notice of that point.

LORD BOWLES

My Lords, I think my noble friend Lord Bowden answered the noble Baroness when he said, "Look before you lick".