§ MR. HENNIKEE HEATONI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as 1530 representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that this is the only country in the Empire that refuses to Members of Parliament information regarding contracts such as the price paid for the supply of postage stamps per million; whether he is aware that the British Post Office has already furnished hon. Members with information as to the cost per thousand of postal orders; and under what law or regulation he declines to disclose particulars of the contract with De la Rue and Company.
§ MR. HANBURYThe answer to the first paragraph is in the negative. Even if the cost of postal orders has been published, about which I have some doubt, the two cases are not analogous. Stamps are used for both postal and inland revenue purposes, and the preparation of them in such a manner is to make obliteration whether by the postal stamp or ordinary inks permanent is a trade secret. My hon. friend does not seem to be aware that in the case of stamps only the actual colouring and printing is done by the contractor.