HL Deb 25 July 1977 vol 386 cc734-6

2.42 p.m.

The Earl of KINNOULL

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

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what annual income is derived from the philatelic department of the Post Office, and how does it compare with that of other EEC countries, notably Germany.

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, this is a matter for the Post Office, and if the noble Earl would write to the chairman he will give the fullest information he can.

The Earl of KINNOULL

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for the fact that I am having such luck this afternoon, but may I ask him whether he is aware that this department of the Post Office had a revenue of something like one-sixth that of Western Germany and many other countries? There is a feeling that this department is not as vigorous as it could be and is losing revenue accordingly.

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, I was not aware of the disparity mentioned by the noble Earl. Perhaps he could discuss the matter with the chairman of the Post Office.

The Earl of KINNOULL

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord one other question regarding the way in which the choice of commemorative stamps is made? Can the noble Lord say whether, within the department, there is a board set up to make the choice, who is invited to serve on that board, and what evidence is taken from users and those interested as to what stamps should be chosen?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, in my unofficial capacity, I have heard of such a board and I understand that the Palace is involved. Again, the chairman of the Post Office will give the noble Earl a full picture.

Lord TREFGARNE

My Lords, is the noble Lord saying that the only information he has for my noble friend is that this is a matter for the Post Office? Is that all his brief says?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, this is a firm rule which I hope noble Lords will consider: the day-to-day management of nationalised industries is a matter for the nationalised industries.

Lord HALE

My Lords, can the noble Lord assist the House by elucidating what is the procedure when we want to know anything? Do we first put down a Question in this House, and are we then told to write to the chairman of the Post Office, or do we first write to the chairman of the Post Office and get told that he is not quite sure what is our interest in the matter, and will we identify ourselves and send documents? I regret to say that I lost my documents this morning at Victoria Station.

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, my noble friend has a problem. I suggest that he reads the annual report of the nationalised industries and raises the matter on debate.

Lord CARRINGTON

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord the Leader of the House this question: The noble Lord, Lord Winterbottom, is right in what he says about matters being for the day-to-day management of the nationalised industries. But I wonder whether we might devise some procedure in this House whereby we should save a lot of time by not allowing these Questions to be put on the Order Paper. To reiterate time after time that it is a matter for the nationalised industry in question is not only a waste of the time of the House, but of that of the Minister and the person who asks the Question.

The LORD PRIVY SEAL

(Lord Peart): My Lords, I will certainly take note of what the noble Lord has said.

Lord PARGITER

My Lords, would my noble friend agree that it should be possible, if a Member of this House puts down a Question which is for any one of the nationalised industries and there is doubt whether the Minister or the industry should answer, for the Minister concerned to forward it to the particular board and notify the Member accordingly?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, that is a procedure which I follow perhaps two or three times a week.

Lord AIREDALE

My Lords, did the Government refer this Question to the Post Office? Did the Post Office declare to the Government what this annual income amounts to? If they did, and if the noble Lord, Lord Winterbottom, knows, would there be any harm in letting the House know what this annual income is? May we have an answer?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, there is no harm. But the point is that it is something that really is a question for discussion between the noble Earl and the chairman of the Post Office. I certainly cannot speak for what the Germans earn.

Lord AIREDALE

My Lords, may we have the answer so far as it relates to the British Post Office? If the noble Lord knows the answer, may we have it?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

I was asked for the comparative figure, not the absolute figure.