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Proceeding contribution from Lord Christopher (Labour) in the House of Lords on Wednesday, 6 April 2011. It occurred during Committee of the Whole House (HL) and Debate on bill on Postal Services Bill.


Postal Services Bill

I thank noble Lords who have spoken in support of the amendment, which is very encouraging. I was going to call the noble Lord, Lord Brooke, my noble friend, because, as he said, he has been a friend for about 25 years. One of his remarks reminded me of a true story. I have been thinking about this for some time. The Inland Revenue has—or had; I hope that it still has—a very large and valuable collection of stamps which it seems to me appropriate to put into the museum. Some of them used to be exhibited in three or four large glass cases as you walked into Somerset House. You could view the stamps and they were changed. One day, someone from Stanley Gibbons came in and asked to see the chairman. He said, ““Do you know what you have in your glass cases?””. The chairman said, ““Well, stamps””. ““Yes, he said, but there is £1 million-worth in there””. The stamps were then taken away. As far as I know, they are not being seen by anyone. That seems to me to be a great shame. I thank the Minister for her remarks. Her early remarks were a bit technical and I will need to take some opinions on them but, in view of the assurances that she has given, I am content to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 25A withdrawn. Amendment 25B not moved. Clause 60 agreed. Clauses 61 to 64 agreed. Schedule 9 : Transitional provisions for Part 3 Amendment 25C Schedule 9 : Transitional provisions for Part 3 Amendment 25C Moved by


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
726 c1812 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Contracts Devolved matters Competition Finance Insolvency Privatisation Workplace pensions Staff Post offices Prices Pension funds Postal services Parcels Ofcom Postal Services Commission Post Office Postage stamps Reform Wales Surcharges Rural areas Royal Mail Universal service obligation Operating costs British Postal Museum and Archive
Legislation
Postal Services Bill 2010-12
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk