§ Baroness PHILLIPSMy 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 the experimental issue of charity postage stamps has had a successful outcome in raising money for charity.
§ The MINISTER of STATE, DEPARTMENT of INDUSTRY (Lord Beswick)My Lords, it will be for the Post Office and the National Council of Social Service to assess its results. I understand that the Post Office expects to make an announcement next month about the progress of the charity stamp experiment which was introduced for one year last January.
§ Baroness PHILLIPSMy Lords, I should like to thank the Minister for that reply. Is it possible for him to tell me whether there is a likelihood that this experiment will be repeated; and, if so, whether it could be for a longer period than four weeks?
§ Lord BESWICKMy Lords, I am not quite sure what my noble friend means by a period of four weeks. This is a scheme for one year. I should think that the possibility of its continuation or repetition would be one for consideration later in the year.
§ Lord MAELORMy Lords, can the Minister tell me whether the experimental issue of 7p stamps has proved a dead loss so far as the Post Office is concerned?
§ Lord BESWICKMy Lords, I understand it might have been better.