§ MR. GEORGE ROBERTS (Norwich)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if the condition is attached to tenders for book-work printing for the Irish Stationery Office, that the contract must be executed in the City of Dublin; if so, will he state the reasons for such stipulation; and whether he will consider the advisability of allowing other Irish firms to tender for Government printing.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. HOBHOUSE,) Bristol, E.I am informed that of the seven book-work printing contracts made by the Stationery Office in Ireland five must be executed in Dublin. This restriction is imposed in the interests of the Irish Public Departments who consider it necessary that the printer should be close at hand. The two remaining contracts may be executed in any part of Ireland. I understand that the same necessity is felt in London and Edinburgh, and that it is met in the same way, namely, by confining the execution of certain contracts to those cities.