§ MR. J. E. ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the business of the Hansard Publishing Union, Limited, has recently been taken over by a Receiver; if so, whether the Government contract is affected there by; and whether care will be taken that no inconvenience or loss shall arise to the public service through these financial difficulties of the contractors?
§ *THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. JACKSON,) Leeds, N.Yes, Sir; I am aware that a Receiver has been appointed over this business. The Treasury have, however, received assurance that the business will be continued and the contracts fulfilled. The Receiver in his letter says—
Having been appointed Receiver for the debenture-holders of the above-named company, the property and control of the business has now vested in me. I therefore hasten to assure you that the steps now being taken for the re-construction of the company will in no 24 way affect the carrying out of all contracts intrusted to them. I hereby undertake that the Government contracts will be carried out by me on the same terms and subject to the same conditions as they would have been by the company.I am advised that this sufficiently protects the public interests, and I may add that there has been no inconvenience up to the present, the business going on as usual.