§ MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether it is true that the firm of Messrs. Macrae, Curtice, and Co. have obtained the contract for Parliamentary Printing; and, whether he can communicate the terms of the contract to the House?
§ THE SECRETARY (Mr. JACKSON) (Leeds, N.)I am not at present in a position to make any statement beyond what I have already made—that the contract will be laid upon the Table when it is completed.
§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)May I ask the hon. Gentleman if his attention has been called to a paragraph which has gone the round of the Press, containing an extract from a Report issued by Macrae, Curtice and Co., announcing that they have secured the contract, and that what has been hitherto known as Hansard will, in future, be known as Macrae, Curtice and Co.'s volume, or something of that sort? I should also like to know how it is that a private firm can issue a circular of this kind, and is able to convey information to the public before it is communicated to the House itself?
§ MR. JACKSONMy attention has not been called to the paragraph to which the hon. and learned Member refers; but assuming, as of course I do, that the statement of the hon. and learned Member is correct, it would make no difference whatever in my position; because, as I have already stated to the House, I do not feel myself called upon to make any statement until the contract is completed and I am in a position to lay it on the Table of the House. I think the House will see that it would be extremely improper for me to give detailed particulars of any contract which has not been signed and completed.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYIf the hon. Gentleman will refer to a paper published on Saturday last, called The Liberal and Radical, he will find the Circular there referred to.