Oral Answers to Questions — Post Office – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 26 Tachwedd 1947.
Squadron Leader Samuel Segal
, Preston
12:00,
26 Tachwedd 1947
asked the Postmaster-General why no special stamp has been issued to commemorate the Royal Wedding.
Mr John Hare
, Woodbridge
asked the Postmaster-General why no special issue of postage stamps to commemorate the Royal Wedding has been made.
Mr Charles Hobson
, Wembley North
Much to my regret, the time available between the announcement and the date of the wedding did not suffice for the design, printing and issue of a special postage stamp worthy of the occasion, but a special commemorative cancellation mark, which the hon. Members have no doubt seen, was designed and brought into use throughout the United Kingdom.
Squadron Leader Samuel Segal
, Preston
How was it possible for the Dominions, which are many thousands of miles away from the scene of this celebration, to find time to issue commemorative stamps. whereas all our own Post Office found time to do was to get itself tied up in knots over this matter?
Mr Charles Hobson
, Wembley North
The Dominions and Great Britain are not comparable in this matter. Their requirements in the number of stamps are considerably different from ours. We require 350 million stamps, and they take a long time to print.
Squadron Leader Samuel Segal
, Preston
Is not this another instance of the almost total lack of imagination shown by the Post Office?
Mr Charles Hobson
, Wembley North
No, it takes approximately nine months to design, print, and have in circulation a postage stamp—[HON. MEMBERS: "Why?"]—under the procedure usually adopted by the Department. The design of the stamp alone takes three months, and then it has to be submitted to His Majesty the King.
Mr Thomas Skeffington-Lodge
, Bedford
Will my hon. Friend consider that it is still not too late—[HON. MEMBERS: "It is."]—to take action as desired by the questioner? May I have an answer?
Mr Charles Hobson
, Wembley North
Put that question down, and we will have a look at it.
Mr Thomas Skeffington-Lodge
, Bedford
asked the Postmaster-General whether he will take steps to issue a commemorative stamp for the recent Royal Wedding.
Mr Charles Hobson
, Wembley North
No, Sir. A commemorative cancellation mark specially designed for the occasion is already in use throughout the United Kingdom. Much to my regret, the time available between the announcement and the date of the wedding did not suffice for the design, printing and issue of a special postage stamp worthy of the occasion.
