HC Deb 23 June 1904 vol 136 cc990-1
MR. MARKHAM (Nottinghamshire, Mansfield)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, seeing that the manager of The Times, in the issue of The Times of 11th June states he had received an order from one Government Department for forty copies of The Times daily for twelve months for the sum of £120 per annum, he will say if free copies of The Times are provided for the use of all Government Departments; and, if so, what is the total amount annually voted for this purpose.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY (Mr. VICTOR CAVENDISH, Derbyshire, W.)

Copies of The Times are required in most public Departments, but I cannot state the total cost of supply without inquiry. I will make inquiry into the statement that as many as forty copies are supplied to a single Department.

MR. MARKHAM

Will the hon. Member say under what Vote these papers are taken?

MR. MACVEAGH (Down, S.)

Will all these officials who are supplied with copies of The Times be also supplied with copies of "The Life and Times of Piggott?"

MR. VICTOR CAVENDISH

The amount is charged against the Vote for the incidental expenses of the Department concerned.