§ MR. KEIR HARDIE (Merthyr Tydvil)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he can say when the contract for twine supplied to the Post Office was last renewed, and the name of the present contractor; whether he is a manufacturer of twine; whether the contract is for hemp twine, and whether that article is being supplied; and when he again proposes to submit the contract for tender.
§ *THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN, Worcestershire, E.)There are ten kinds of twine, string, and cord used by the Post Office, and supplies are obtained partly from the Prison Commissioners and partly from two contractors, Messrs. Ullathorne and Co. and Mr. I. N. Lyons, the contracts with whom were made in 1895 and are terminable by six months notice. Both are manufacturers of twine. The materials specified for the various kinds of twine, &c., are hemp, flax, and jute, and the supplies are carefully 82 tested on delivery to see that they con form to specification. It is not con sidered desirable to invite fresh tenders at present.
§ MR. KEIR HARDIEAre the contracts of any other Department subject to similar conditions as to termination?
§ *MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINYes' Sir, many contracts are so determined.