§ Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his meeting with representatives of charitable organisations concerning the problems surrounding the use of the Queen's head on stamps to be sold by the Post Office as part of a fundraising scheme for charities; and whether he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. LaneI saw a representative of the National Council of Social Service on 25th January. As British stamps carry the portrait of the Sovereign, the possible issue of a charity surcharged stamp by the Post Office raised the questioninter alia of officially associating the Sovereign with charitable fund raising, against which successive Governments have advised. It would be invidious for the Sovereign, as for the Government themselves, to be put into the position of appearing to decide which among very many deserving charities should be supported in this form of public appeal.