HC Deb 10 August 1909 vol 9 cc244-5
Mr. BRIDGEMAN

asked the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been called to the cost of daily diet books as supplied to the unions, and if he will consider the possibility of supplying them at a less cost than £2 16s. each?

Mr. BURNS

I may refer to the reply which I gave on 27th July to a similar question put to me by my hon. Friend the Member for the Montgomery District. As I then stated, I am not aware of the precise cost of the book as prepared for any particular board of guardians. This would be settled between the guardians and the bookseller. It is not fixed by me, and I do not think I can take any action in the matter.

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

Would it not be well if the Government had a printing and stationery office where they could supply these books?

Mr. BURNS

The guardians, as a rule, accept the lowest tenders for the supply of this very elaborate, very important, and very costly book, and I have no reason to believe that they are paying more for this very elaborate book than they ought to do.

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

Will the right hon. Gentleman exhibit this very valuable work in the tea-room some time?

Mr. BURNS

I am very pleased to say that there are a large number of Members of this House who have been members of boards of guardians, and know the charac- ter of this book; but I shall be delighted to bring this bulky tome over from the Local Government Board.