MR. MOWBRAY (Lancashire, Prestwich)asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the contracts entered into by the Board of Inland Revenue in 1880 with the firm of De la Rue and Company, Whether he has called upon the Board of Inland Revenue for any explanation of the circumstances under which those contracts were made?
§ MR. HANBURY (Preston)also asked, Whether the Inland Revenue Department itself had made any contract with Messrs. De La Rue & Co. for the supply of its own Department?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GOSCHEN) (St. George's, Hanover Square)I did not call upon the Board of Inland Revenue for such an explanation, for they at once communicated with the Treasury on the subject, and inclosed a copy of a Minute drawn up and signed by Sir Charles Herries, who, in 1880, was Chairman of the Board, in which the circumstances under which the arrangements with Messrs. De La Rue were concluded are fully detailed. I propose to lay upon the Table of the House a copy of the communication of the Board of Inland Revenue and of its inclosure. I may add that the Board—though they do not by any means accept the figures given by my right hon. Friend the Postmaster General as correct, and I did not understand him to have any authentic information on the subject—have long been aware that, owing to the fall in prices and improved processes of production, it is tolerably certain that when the contract expires in 1890 considerable savings will be effected.