HL Deb 12 February 1969 vol 299 cc420-2
LORD LEATHERLAND

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 why letters despatched from Government offices in Essex are carrying a postmark which says "Fifty miles from London; Sheppey for Holidays, Homes and Industry; Kent's own Sunny Island"; whether any Government Department is receiving money for, or incurring expenditure in, affixing this imprint, which is calculated to suggest the unsuitability of Sheppey as a possible third London Airport; and whether the circulation of such inspired propaganda with Government connivance is in keeping with the independent approach which the Government Commission is supposed to make in selecting a suitable site for the airport.]

LORD BOWLES

My Lords, local authorities may publicise local amenities for tourist or prestige purposes by means of postmark Slogans. This slogan, sponsored and paid for by the Borough Council of Queenborough in Sheppey, is put on mail, including that from Government Departments, posted in the Ilford and Barking area. The slogan was first used at Sheerness in August, 1963, and was not concerned with Sheppey as a possible third London Airport.

LORD LEATHERLAND

My Lords, whilst thanking my noble friend for that Answer, may I ask whether he would not agree that what may have been virtuous six years ago may be slightly immoral in the changed circumstances of the day, when Sheppey and Stansted are rival suitors before the impartial Commission set up by the Government? Does not my noble friend also think that the Government ought not to solicit financial aid from one of the parties to this semi-judicial inquiry? May I have the privilege of asking him also whether he is aware that the letter I received was from my tax collector, and that I was so indignant that I immediately sat down and wrote a cheque and sent it off?

LORD BOWLES

Thank goodness it did some good for the country! No; this is a purely commercial operation. We do charge fees, which I will let my noble friend see. I am rather surprised that he should go so far as to suggest that a Royal Commission under the chairmanship of Mr. Justice Roskill, supported and helped by a number of very eminent people, could possibly be influenced by a postmark.

VISCOUNT DILHORNE

My Lords, will the noble Lord confirm that his Answer means that the noble Lord, Lord Leatherland, can arrange for a postmark to be issued in Sheppey stressing the desirability of Sheppey for a third London Airport?

LORD BOWLES

My Lords, yes; I think he probably can.

BARONESS HORSBRUGH

My Lords, can the noble Lord say how much the local authority pay for this?

LORD BOWLES

Yes, my Lords, I can. The basic charge is £50 to cover a campaign. Die charge for the first design, is £3 for each die—and "die" is not Cockney for "day"; it is "d-i-e". The time charge is £1 per week per die.

LORD HAWKE

My Lords, would the noble Lord say whether this service is open to any advertiser who wishes to have a mark printed on an envelope?

LORD BOWLES

No, my Lords; private firms cannot avail themselves of this facility.