The Queen's head will remain on Royal Mail stamps after the Government decided to amend its controversial privatisation legislation.
The Royal Mail, one of the oldest postal services in the world, is up for sale and there were fears that the 170 year old tradition of having the monarch's head on postage stamps would be ended.
But the new Postal Services Bill will be amended to give ministers the power to require an image of the Queen to appear on postage stamps.
Postal Affairs Minister Ed Davey said: "I can't see any reason why any future owner would want to change this as it's a very valuable and prestigious tradition."
The monarch's head has appeared on postage stamps since the world's first, the Penny Black, appeared in 1840.
Law to keep the Queen on stamps
By STAFF REPORTER
The Sun
8th January 2011
THE Queen's head will remain on stamps regardless of who buys the Royal Mail after the Government decided to amend its controversial privatisation legislation, it was announced today.
The Government said that after listening to the views of members of both Houses of Parliament and raising the matter with Buckingham Palace, it had decided to build in a new safeguard.
The Postal Services Bill, which receives its third reading in the Commons on Wednesday, will be amended to give ministers the power to require an image of the Queen to appear on postage stamps.
Postal Affairs Minister Ed Davey said: "At the moment there is no legal requirement for stamps to use the Queen's head.
"Royal Mail has always done this voluntarily by convention as they are extremely proud of their Royal connection.
"I can't see any reason why any future owner would want to change this as it's a very valuable and prestigious tradition. So our amendment is really a fail-safe and I would be astounded if the power ever needs to be used."
Moya Greene, Royal Mail's chief executive, said: "The monarch's head has been a key feature of Royal Mail stamps since the Penny Black was issued in 1840.
"We are very proud of our long-standing Royal association. It's unthinkable that Royal Mail stamps would not have the image of the monarch so we strongly support any measure that fully protects that key feature of our stamps."
The world's first postage stamp was the Penny Black, introduced in Britain in 1840. It featured the head of the 21 year old Queen Victoria.
The Bill is now entering its final stage in the Commons before being considered by the House of Lords.
Ministers say the plans to sell off the Royal Mail part of the business will lead to an injection of private capital, ending the dependence on funding from the taxpayer and bringing new commercial disciplines into the business.
The Royal Mail traces its history back to 1516, when Henry VIII established a "Master of the Posts", a post which eventually evolved into the office of the Postmaster General. The Royal Mail service was first made available to the public by Charles I on 31 July 1635, with postage being paid by the recipient, and the General Post Office (GPO) was officially established by Charles II in 1660.
Between 1719 and 1763, Ralph Allen, Postmaster at Bath, signed a series of contracts with the post office to develop and expand Britain's postal network. He organised mail coaches which were provided by both Wilson & Company of London and Williams & Company of Bath. The early Royal Mail Coaches were similar to ordinary family coaches but with Post Office livery.
thesun.co.uk
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The Royal Mail, one of the oldest postal services in the world, is up for sale and there were fears that the 170 year old tradition of having the monarch's head on postage stamps would be ended.
But the new Postal Services Bill will be amended to give ministers the power to require an image of the Queen to appear on postage stamps.
Postal Affairs Minister Ed Davey said: "I can't see any reason why any future owner would want to change this as it's a very valuable and prestigious tradition."
The monarch's head has appeared on postage stamps since the world's first, the Penny Black, appeared in 1840.
Law to keep the Queen on stamps
By STAFF REPORTER
The Sun
8th January 2011
THE Queen's head will remain on stamps regardless of who buys the Royal Mail after the Government decided to amend its controversial privatisation legislation, it was announced today.
The Government said that after listening to the views of members of both Houses of Parliament and raising the matter with Buckingham Palace, it had decided to build in a new safeguard.
The Postal Services Bill, which receives its third reading in the Commons on Wednesday, will be amended to give ministers the power to require an image of the Queen to appear on postage stamps.
Postal Affairs Minister Ed Davey said: "At the moment there is no legal requirement for stamps to use the Queen's head.
"Royal Mail has always done this voluntarily by convention as they are extremely proud of their Royal connection.
"I can't see any reason why any future owner would want to change this as it's a very valuable and prestigious tradition. So our amendment is really a fail-safe and I would be astounded if the power ever needs to be used."
Moya Greene, Royal Mail's chief executive, said: "The monarch's head has been a key feature of Royal Mail stamps since the Penny Black was issued in 1840.
"We are very proud of our long-standing Royal association. It's unthinkable that Royal Mail stamps would not have the image of the monarch so we strongly support any measure that fully protects that key feature of our stamps."
The world's first postage stamp was the Penny Black, introduced in Britain in 1840. It featured the head of the 21 year old Queen Victoria.
The Bill is now entering its final stage in the Commons before being considered by the House of Lords.
Ministers say the plans to sell off the Royal Mail part of the business will lead to an injection of private capital, ending the dependence on funding from the taxpayer and bringing new commercial disciplines into the business.
The Royal Mail traces its history back to 1516, when Henry VIII established a "Master of the Posts", a post which eventually evolved into the office of the Postmaster General. The Royal Mail service was first made available to the public by Charles I on 31 July 1635, with postage being paid by the recipient, and the General Post Office (GPO) was officially established by Charles II in 1660.
Between 1719 and 1763, Ralph Allen, Postmaster at Bath, signed a series of contracts with the post office to develop and expand Britain's postal network. He organised mail coaches which were provided by both Wilson & Company of London and Williams & Company of Bath. The early Royal Mail Coaches were similar to ordinary family coaches but with Post Office livery.
thesun.co.uk
wikipedia.org
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