§ SIR G. BADEN-POWELLI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, when tenders were publicly invited in 1885 for the current contract for the sole agency for the sale of Government publications in England and Wales, it was stated by the Treasury that the total sales for the year amounted to £36,000; whether the average total of sales had been for the previous six years (1878 to 1884) under £29,000, and has been for the subsequent seven years (1886 to 1892) under £30,000; and whether, as the total of sales put forward by Government in 1885 as a basis for tenders has thus been proved in actual fact to be quite abnormal, the Treasury will consent to consider the representations of the contractors, and modify the terms of the contract?
§ SIR J. T. HIBBERTIt is the case that the average sales from 1887–8 to 1892–3, inclusive, amounted in value to about £31,000, and the matter alluded to has been carefully considered by the Treasury. They did not, however, think that it would be fair to the other tenderers to modify the terms of the contract as proposed, especially as it is in the power of the contractors, if they are dissatisfied, to give 12 months' notice to terminate the contract. The Treasury have, however, expressed their readiness to consider a proposal for a grant by the Government of a reasonable contribution towards the rent of better premises in a suitable locality for the sale of Government publications.