§ MR. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the contract for printing Parliamentary Debates requires that they shall 1208 be issued on the seventh day after delivery; whether he is aware that no report has been issued since 20th July; and whether he will take steps to secure that the provisions of the contract are complied with?
SIR J. T. HIBBERTMy hon. Friend is correct in stating that the contract requires the issue of the parts on the seventh day; and I believe it is the fact that the issue is in arrear as stated. I am, however, informed by the contractors that the delay is due to pressure put upon them to allow extra time for correction, but that the issue for the 25th July will be published this evening, and that the publication will thus be brought up to date. I have also taken it upon myself to see that in future the provisions of the contract shall be carried out.