HL Deb 27 March 2000 vol 611 cc44-5WA
Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 16 March (WA 220–221) what arrangements the Royal Mail are making to celebrate the bicentenary of the creation of the United Kingdom in 2001. [HL1589]

Lord Sainsbury of Turville

The issue of stamps is a matter for the Post Office. I am advised that the possibility of including the 200th anniversary of the creation of the United Kindom in the 2001 stamp programme was considered in early 1998—and research was conducted into the 200th anniversary of the Union Flag, the physical icon of the creation of the UK. The Post Office receives some 2,000 suggestions for over 300 subjects. Detailed research suggested there was no strong support for a stamp covering this anniversary. Only 10 subjects were chosen for the 2001 programme and the creation of the United Kingdom was not one of them. However, the entire Millennium stamp programme is a celebration of the United Kingdom past, present and future.