Postal charges

I refer to comments by Denis A. Darmanin of Valletta.

Mr Darmanin remarks that denominations in the recently issued military architecture set do not include a 7c stamp - 7c being the local postage rate. Mr Darmanin ventures the opinion that this 7c rate was omitted intentionally and asks whether the public is to anticipate a rise in the cost of local postage charges.

By way of explanation, the stamp issue programme for 2003 - with 11 different issues spread over 12 months - includes no fewer than 20 different stamps of 7c denomination, out of a grand total of 58 stamps. The 7c denominations are spread over five out of the 11 issues.

If we were to include the 7c denomination in each and every issue, we would be up to our eyeballs in 7c stamps, which is certainly not desirable. Mr Darmanin can rest assured, however, that our programme allows for a constant and regular supply of the 7c - and indeed, any other denomination.

As to whether the public is to anticipate a rise in the cost of local postal charges, my simple reply is: no, not to my knowledge.