§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the substance of the contracts at present existing between the Government in its various Departments and the Peninsular and Oriental Steamship Company, the dates of these contracts, and the amounts of the subsidies given by the Government to this Company?
§ MR. HANBURYThe honourable Member will find full particulars of the contract between the Company and the Post Office for the conveyance of the Eastern and part of the Australian mails (including parcels) in the House of Commons Paper No. 259 of 1897. The contract is dated 25th May 1897, and provides for the payment of £330,000 per annum for seven years from 1st February 1898. All the mail contracts held by the, P. and O. were obtained, and have always been obtained, by them after being put up to public tender.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLWhere can we find anything as to the amount of the subsidy?
§ MR. HANBURYI think it amounts to about £11,000 for about three vessels. But, in all, we have a call on 13 or 14 vessels.
§ MR. HAVELOCK WILSONWhat do they receive for carrying troops?
§ MR. HANBURYI cannot answer that.