§ MR. WOODS (Lancashire, Ince)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the firm of Messrs. M'Corquodale and Co. have received 10 orders from Her Majesty's Government (Stationery Department) during the current year; what is the nature of the work and its money value; is any part printed matter; and, if so, how much; and yon what date did these contracts commence and when do they expire?
§ SIR J. T. HIBBERTMessrs. M'Corquodale and Co. hold five running contracts, under which many orders have been given to them during the current year. These are for—(1) vellum binding, commencing April 1, 1884, and terminating March 31, 1894; (2) envelopes, commencing September 1, 1891, and terminable on six months' notice; (3) memorandum-books, commencing January 1, 1888, terminable at three months' notice; (4) telegraph forms, commencing August 4, 1888, terminable at six months' notice; and (5) Savings Bank deposit-books, commencing December 1, 1892, and terminating November 30, 1893. The approximate total annual value of these contracts is £37,000 a year. My hon. Friend will judge for himself from my description of the contracts how much printing is included therein.
§ MR. DALZIEL (Kirkcaldy, &c.)When these contracts run out will they be put up to public competition?
§ SIR J. T. HIBBERTCertainly.
§ MR. HANBURY (Preston)How long have they to run?
§ SIR J. T. HIBBERTI have given the dates already. I will show the hon. Member the answer instead of wasting the time of the House by repeating them.