§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, When the Packet Estimate will be brought forward; whether any Contracts have yet been made for the Dover and Ostend and Dover and Calais Services, or whether those services are still open to tender; and what arrangements have been made for carrying on the Services after the 20th of June?
MR. PEELsaid, in reply, that he did not propose to bring on the Packet Estimate until after the Civil Service Estimates should have been disposed of. With regard to the Service between Dover and Ostend, the Treasury received some time ago a tender from the Belgian Government to perform that Service from the 20th of June. That offer was accepted conditionally on no funds being provided by Parliament for Mr. Churchward's contract beyond that date; and upon the passing of the recent Vote the Treasury informed the Belgian Government that they accepted the tender unconditionally. With regard to the Dover and Calais Service, they had the other day received from the South Eastern and the London, Dover, and Chatham Railway 518 Companies an offer to perform that Service from the 20th of June next, for £6,000 a year; and they had accepted that offer.
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEWhat is to be the duration of that contract?