§ MR. HENNIKER HEATON () CanterburyI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he would state to the House what is the cost per thousand of the postage stamps, the halfpenny and penny value, supplied to the Post Office; and what is the total number and the cost of the postage stamps supplied to the Post Office last year.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. HANBURY,) PrestonI must decline to disclose particular's of the schedules of prices attached to contracts for the supply of goods for the public service. In paragraph 2 my Iron, friend asks are for the total number and the cost of postage stamps supplied to the Post Office last year. The cost estimated for the last financial year' he will find in Sub-head K of the Post Office Vote, and the actual cost in the Appropriation Account, which will be issued shortly. That being so, if I were to give him the total numbers supplied, a simple process of arithmetic would enable him to calculate the price paid, as to which, in answer to paragraph 1, I have declined to give him information.
§ MR. HENNIKER HEATONIs the right Iron. Gentleman aware that the United States Government got their stamps printed for half the price paid by the British Post Office?
§ [No answer' was given.]