HC Deb 26 February 1969 vol 778 c320W
82. Mr. John Page

asked the Postmaster-General why the issue of the new commemoration "Queen Elizabeth 2" stamps was not withheld until the ship had passed her trials and was in service.

Mr. Stonehouse

These stamps were an integral part of a series of British ships. Changing the published issue date would have caused inconvenience and expense not just to the Post Office, but to members of the philatelic trade and others who had made and publicised their own special arrangements. It would also have shown a sorry lack of faith in the ship's future.