§ Mr. Clark Hutchisonasked the Postmaster-General what representations he has received from postmasters and postmistresses in Scotland, and in particular those in the Highland areas, about difficulties in accounting procedure in regard to postage stamps and new issues thereof; and what reply he has sent.
§ Mr. StonehouseI am not aware of any such representations. If the hon. Member has any specific case in mind, perhaps he will let me know.
§ Mr. Clark Hutchisonasked the Postmaster-General (1) how many issues of new postage stamps there have been from January, 1967, to the present date;
(2) if he will restrict issues of new postage stamps to one per annum;
(3) what advice he has sought from foreign Governments about the timing and numbers of new issues of postage stamps.
§ Mr. Stonehouse12 sets of commemorative stamps; a complete new range of 18 definitive stamps; and 6 new 5d. regional stamps. We have changed the colour of the 4d. regional and 4d. and 8d. definitive stamps for operational reasons.
I am satisfied that the present stamp issuing policy is basically right. It has increased our annual philatelic revenue from £175,000 in 1964 to £3 million.
We have not consulted any foreign Governments about the number or frequency of our stamp issues; but we do take note of their stamp programmes. Many of them make far more issues than we do.