Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent discussions he has had with Royal Mail on the continued issuing of Country definitive postage stamps.

We have had no such discussions. Operational matters, which include decisions relating to Royal Mail’s postage stamps, are the direct responsibility of the company’s management (subject to an agreed convention and criteria governing the designs of postage stamps carrying an image of The Queen’s head, which are overseen by this Department).

The company maintains Country Definitives on an ongoing basis and has no current plans to change existing designs or its policy on such stamps. Country Definitives are available on an ongoing basis from post offices in the respective countries, and available direct from Royal Mail.