§ MR. BYLES (Salford, N.)To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the contract for the reporting and printing of Hansard has been renewed to the present contractors for next session; if so, whether such conditions have been stipulated for as will prevent the recurrence of the oppressive overwork to which reference is made in the Report of the Select Committee on Parliamentary Reporting; and whether, if not too late, he will consult the present reporters as to the conditions which should be imposed with respect to the number of men to be employed in note-taking, the hours of duty, and the salaries usually paid for such work.
(Answered by Mr. Runciman.) The Answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. It was not found possible, in the circumstances, to make any substantial modifications in the conditions of the contract, which is for the duration of next session only.