§ MR. J. H. DALZIEL (Kirkcaldy, &c.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether a change has taken place in the contractors for the official reporting of the Parliamentary Debates; whether the attention of the present contractors was directed to the Resolution of the House of February 13, 1891, against sub-contracting; whether he is satisfied that that Resolution is being observed; whether he will consent to lay upon the Table the terms of the present contract, and any sub-contract in connection therewith; and what recommendations, if any, of the Select Committee on Parliamentary Debates, which reported last Session, have been carried into effect?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Sir J. T. HIBBERT, Oldham)The answer to the first and second paragraphs of my hon. Friend's question is Yes. With respect to the third, as at present advised, I see no reason to believe that the Resolution is not observed. I have laid on the Table to-day a copy of the present contract. I am not aware that there is any sub-contract within the meaning of the Resolution, but if the reference is to the reporting, I have a letter from the contractors assuring me that the men employed are paid at the full market rate of wages. As regards the last paragraph of the question, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has not been able to provide the supplies necessary for meeting the increased cost entailed by the recommendations of the Select Committee of 1893.
§ MR. DALZIELAs I understand, there is a contract. But is there any sub-contract?
§ SIR J. T. HIBBERTApparently not. It is merely an arrangement by the contractors for the reporting. My hon. Friend had better see the contract.