HC Deb 20 April 1970 vol 800 cc4-6W
21. Sir H. Harrison

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what estimate he has made of the extra revenue arising from the payment by United Kingdom citizens of a surcharge on all letters from Rhodesia.

23. Mr. Wall

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what sum is expected to be raised by the surcharge on the new Rhodesian stamps.

Mr. Stonehouse:

This is a matter for the Post Office.

24. Mr. Wall

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what representations he has received regarding the Government's decision to surcharge the new Rhodesian stamps.

31. Mr. Newens

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what communications have been received in regard to Her Majesty's Government's decision to impose a surcharge on the new Rhodesian stamps.

32. Mr. Will Griffiths

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what representations he has received following the decision to declare Rhodesian stamps invalid.

Mr. Stonehouse:

My Department has received about 100 communications from Members of Parliament and the public, most of them criticising the surcharge.

25. Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what consultations he had with the Post Office Corporation before he decided that certain Rhodesian postage stamps would be invalid; and by what authority he made that decision.

Mr. Stonehouse:

The invalidity of these stamps stems from their intrinsic illegality, in that they could not have been approved by a lawful Minister in Southern Rhodesia as is required by the laws of that territory. The Post Office was naturally brought into discussions on the practical implications of my announcement.

26. Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications which Rhodesian stamps he now accepts as valid.

33. Mr. Latham

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications which Rhodesian stamps are to be recognised as valid.

Mr. Stonehouse:

Stamps are valid if they are properly issued under the law of Southern Rhodesia. Except for the so-called " Independence " stamps against which one of my predecessors took action in 1965 it was not manifest that previous stamps had not been issued in accordance with lawful decisions and they are accordingly still acceptable.

29. Mr. Dan Jones

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what further communications have been received from the Universal Postal Union in addition to its circular issued on 23rd March; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Stonehouse:

The circular notified member countries that the definitive decimal stamps issued by the illegal régime on 17th February are not valid in Southern Rhodesia and hence not valid for the prepayment of postage. No further circular has been issued by the Universal Postal Union on this subject.

34. Mr. Arthur Davidson

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what steps have been taken by his Department to make known the invalidity of stamps issued by the illegal regime in Rhodesia.

39. Mr. Ted Fletcher

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what further steps have been taken since his decision that stamps of the illegal réime in Rhodesia are invalid; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Stonehouse:

Apart from the publicity given to my reply on 16th March to my hon. Friend the Member for Bedfordshire, South (Mr. Hastings) the Universal Postal Union issued at my Department's request on 23rd March a circular informing all member countries of the invalidity of certain Rhodesian stamps. In the United Kingdom the Post Office began applying surcharging arrangements during the following week.—[Vol 798, c. 28–9.]