Equality of philately - Concerns over Robert Burns anniversary stamp to be taken to First Minister

20/11/2008

Concerns over a Commemorative stamp to mark the 250th Anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns are to be taken to the First Minister Alex Salmond, following a meeting today between John Scott, Scottish Conservative MSP for Ayr, and Culture Minister Linda Fabiani.

The Royal Mail have plans to produce a Robert Burns 250th Anniversary Issue souvenir sheet of stamps - to be launched on 22 January 2009 - but not to make the Burns stamp available for purchase through Post Offices at face value.

After being alerted to the issue by Willie King, President of the Scottish Postal History Society, Mr Scott tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament on the matter and secured a meeting today with the Culture Minister (see notes).

Commenting, John Scott said:

“The issuing of a stamp commemorating the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns is highly appropriate, but the way in which the Royal Mail has gone about it seems to me to be totally wrong.

“Restricting the stamp to a souvenir set means that anyone wanting to use it will have to pay £2.66, so there’s not much chance of them being commonly used.

“This is a huge missed opportunity to promote Robert Burns in the Year of Homecoming, both at home and abroad and to raise the profile of Burns and Ayrshire during a year in which we are hopeful of a major tourist spin-off.

“I was glad that the Culture Minister was willing to meet at very short notice with myself, Willie King and several of his colleagues, that she made it clear she shared our concerns and that she would raise the matter with the First Minister.

“The Royal Mail must reconsider their position on this matter and commission the issue of individual Burns 250th Anniversary Stamps which can be bought at face value through Post Office branches.”