§ Mr. Proudfootasked the Postmaster-General whether he is yet able to make a statement on the steps which his Department is proposing to take to commemorate the centenary of the Post Office Savings Bank.
§ Mr. Bevins:The arrangements to commemorate the Centenary of the Post Office Savings Bank will extend over a period of some weeks from the anniversary date, the 16th September, 1961. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother has indicated her hopes of being able to honour my Department by visiting the Savings Bank Headquarters during that period. The Lord Mayor of the City of London has generously 75W offered to mark the occasion with a Luncheon at the Mansion House on the 27th September. A short history of the Bank is being produced. Special centenary publicity will be displayed on mail vans and at most of the 20,000 post offices throughout the country which transact Savings Bank business. A souvenir cover for the bank book will be presented to 76W each person who opens a Post Office Savings Bank account during the commemorative period.
A commemorative set of postage stamps will be issued, and a postmark with a centenary inscription will be introduced for the period. Functions will be held at selected Head Post Offices.