§ MR. WARNER (Stafford, Lichfield)On behalf of the honourable Member for Stafford, I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether a contract for upwards of 2,000 cycles has been placed by the Post Office authorities without due notice having been given to the trade generally, and tenders publicly advertised for; and whether such contract, if given, has been confirmed; and, if not, whether fresh tenders will be called for before such confirmation be given?
§ MR. HANBURYNo, Sir, no such contract has been placed, but the Postmaster General has under consideration tenders from 14 leading firms for a supply of 300 cycles to a specification specially prepared by the engineer-in-chief to the Post Office. He does not at present propose to call for fresh tenders.
§ MR. WARNERHas the contract been advertised?
§ MR. HANBURYI gather it has not.