MR. FRENCH-BREWSTERasked the Postmaster General, When the Papers relating to the Irish Mail Contract will be laid upon the Table; and, when the House will have an opportunity of discussing them?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)Sir, it is the duty of the Treasury, and not of the Post Office, to lay these Papers upon the Table. The approved draft of the contract is now with the solicitor to the Railway Company. When it is finally settled and sealed, it will be laid upon the Table with the Papers and a Treasury Minute, and I should hope will be in the hands of hon. Members in the month of April. I may remind the House that the new contract will not take effect until the 1st of October next, and that it will have no force until approved by a Vote of the House.
§ MR. GIBSONBut when will the House have an opportunity of discussing the crucial part of the question?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)So far as I am concerned, as soon as possible after the Papers are laid on the Table. But the contract, as I said, has no force at all until it has been approved by the House.
§ MR. GIBSONBut are we to understand that the Papers will not be presented until the month of August, when no Members are here to discuss them?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)I will undertake to see that shall not take place.
§ MR. TOTTENHAMIs the contract to be sealed before it is submitted to this House?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)Yes, according to the rules in these matters the contract is between the Government and the Company, and is a complete contract. But it contains a proviso to the effect that it shall have no force until approved by the House. It must be sealed before being: submitted to the House; but if the House disapproves of it, of course the matter comes to an end.
§ LORD JOHN MANNERSMay I ask whether the contract was submitted to the Cabinet, or merely to the two Departments concerned?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)I am not in a position to answer the Question, as I was not then Chancellor of the Exchequer.
§ MR. DAWSONI should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman, whether the Government, during the interval which must elapse before the contract is finally closed, will leave the London and North Western Railway Company under the belief that the contract will certainly be given to them, and will allow them to go on building boats and making other arrangements for the service, when, possibly, at the eleventh hour, the House may refuse to ratify the contract with them? Will the Government say whether it is now their intention to ratify the contract, after the expressions of opinion from hon. Members on all sides of the House?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)I can give no answer to that Question. The contract has been made, and will now be sealed and laid upon the Table. I can say nothing more than that.