§ Mr. Dudley Smithasked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) whether he will have consultations with the English 704W Tourist Board and other bodies over the implications for tourism in the Post Office decision to phase out local postmarks;
(2) what impact he estimates there will be on Great Britain's tourist industry when the Post Office's postmarks for areas which are of paramount importance in that industry are phased out in the next two or three years.
§ Mr. MeacherI have at present no evidence to suggest that the phasing out of local postmarks will have any significant impact on the tourist industry. I understand that the English Tourist Board, on behalf of the Heart of England Regional Tourist Board, has raised the matter with the Post Office.