§ MR. BELLAIRSI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury to what causes he attributes the increase in the Vote for stationery and printing for the Admiralty, in Class 7, Vote 1, from £73,299 in 1901–2 to £117,774 in 1904–5; whether he can give the expenditure under this heading for 1905–6; and whether this matter is one which will be dealt with by the Committee on Stationery.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY (Mr. MCKENNA) Monmouthshire, N.The chief causes of this large increase appear to be the reorganisation of the fleet, involving the re-casting of a great quantity of forms, an expansion in the number of manuals and intelligence publications generally, a large addition to the number of Admiralty committees, and the substitution of the supply of stationery in kind for the system of allowances in lieu which has 1158 previously obtained. The expenditure for 1905–6 was about £110,000. The subject is not within the terms of reference to the Select Committee on Government Publications, but it is occupying the attention of the Boards both of the Treasury and of the Admiralty who hope to be able to effect economies.