HC Deb 03 April 1860 vol 157 cc1792-3
MR. W. EWART

said, he rose to ask the Secretary of the Treasury (in the absence of Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer), Whether any decision has been come to respecting the maintenance or discontinuance of the Impressed Stamp on Newspapers?

GENERAL BUCKLEY

said, he would beg to ask, Whether any allowance will be made to Newspaper Proprietors on the Stamps they consume as Cheque and Receipt Stamps, placing them on equal terms with Bankers, who now receive an allowance of 7½ per cent?

MR. LAING

said, there was no alteration in the intention of the Government, as it had been announced by his right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to discontinue the privilege of re-transmitting newspapers bearing the impressed stamp. It was proposed to continue the option of using the impressed stamp for purposes of convenience, so as not to cause a loss of time in attaching adhesive stamps to newspapers before they were posted. But, as regarded other details, it would be more convenient to postpone any questions respecting them until the Bill was introduced.