HL Deb 09 July 1974 vol 353 cc460-2
LORD ORR-EWING

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

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government why there has been a delay in announcing the commemorative postage stamps to be issued in 1975 and in particular the proposal, approved by the Swiss postal authorities, to have a joint stamp to mark the 50th anniversary of the first Anglo/Swiss ski race in 1925.

The MINISTER OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRY (LORD BESWICK)

My Lords, there has been no delay. I am advised that the Post Office aims to announce its annual stamp programme during the summer of the preceding year, but there is no specific date for the announcement. I understand that an Anglo-Swiss ski stamp is one of many proposals put to the Post Office for the 1975 stamp programme.

LORD ORR-EWING

My Lords, is the Minister aware that this matter passed through the stamp selection committee before the General Election and that the Swiss authorities are totally in favour of such an issue but are awaiting action from the United Kingdom? I wonder whether the noble Lord will agree that this matter might be speeded up, because it will be the first time that two nations have co-operated in the issue of a stamp about a subject on which they have co-operated so closely and for so many decades. May I express the hope that the Government of the day will seize this opportunity for co-operation in connection with a sport that is becoming ever more popular and which is worth commemorating?

LORD BESWICK

Yes, My Lords; the noble Lord is quite right. I understand that Switzerland has agreed to issue a special stamp if the Post Office here does likewise. But there are other claims upon the limited number of commemorative stamps that can be issued.

LORD WYNNE-JONES

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that while many of us entirely approve of the sport of ski-ing, we feel that stamps should sometimes be issued to commemorate distinguished scientists of this country, which has rarely been done?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, there are many claimants. Probably one reason why no statement has been made so far is that there are an exceptional number of claimants this year.

LORD SLATER

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that his observations in answering this particular Question are correct? Also, may I ask him to bear in mind what has happened about Keir Hardie and other people? While there is this huge demand for commemorative stamps, the Post Office must make a selection on this subject.

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, I have no doubt that what my noble friend said is quite right.

LORD HUNT

My Lords, will the noble Lord also bear in mind, before a decision is taken about stamps in general and about commemorative stamps on the Anglo-Swiss ski race in particular, the value of the stamps in the future? May I also ask the noble Lord whether he feels able to consult with his honourable friend the Minister for Sport, Mr. Denis Howell, about the growing participation of young people in this valuable sport? Does he agree that this growing trend, particularly among secondary schools, sponsored by education authorities would be considerably encouraged and increased by the issue of such a stamp?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, there is a stamp advisory committee which considers all these matters, and of course what has been said by noble Lords, and in particular by the noble Lord, Lord Orr-Ewing, will be taken into account. But the fact still remains that the choice has to be made from among a number of claimants.

LORD BYERS

My Lords, is it not important that this should be seen as a matter of international collaboration between this country and Switzerland? Does not that give a different aspect to the whole matter?

LORD BESWICK

Yes, My Lords, it gives a very different aspect; and, in exactly the same way, every other claimant can also say that they have a very different aspect to their claim.

LORD BYERS

My Lords, are there any other claimants who have this international collaboration aspect?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, some claimants have a strength which arises from other factors.

LORD KINNAIRD

My Lords, is the Minister aware that, due to the gloomy wintery climate in England, a great many people are increasingly coming to Scotland? Is it not also recognised that Scottish people are always particularly welcomed abroad? For those reasons, would the Minister agree that as little delay as possible in a gesture of this kind would be welcome on both sides?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, if the noble Lord is suggesting that there should be co-operation between Scotland and England in this matter, then I would agree with him.

LORD SEGAL

My Lords, would my noble friend urge the Post Office to try to ensure that these letters reach their destination within a reasonable time of the anniversary they are supposed to commemorate?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, my noble friend has made a very witty observation such as is often made in this House, but it bears no relation to the fact that we still have one of the finest postal services in the world.

LORD ORR-EWING

My Lords, would the noble Lord the Minister agree that we all recognise that there are many claimants in this field, but this would be a philatelic "first"? It is the first time, as noble Lords from the Liberal Benches have said, that two countries have co-operated in a gesture such as this. Britain has given so much in the way of recreational tradition to the world in soccer, lawn tennis, golf and ski-ing, that surely it is worth commemorating it and reminding young people how much we have contributed.

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, the noble Lord has a good point; he has made it very well and I suggest we leave it there.

LORD MAELOR

My Lords, so far as Wales is concerned, would the Minister agree not to have a special stamp, but rather to have free postage?