§ Mr. GLYN-JONESasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that a tablet, bearing the letters C. S. S. A., Ld., hangs in the entrance lobby at the Inland Revenue Department at Somerset House; that it is used by Government officials and clerks who desire to order goods from the Civil Service Supply Association, Limited, to indicate thereon the room in which an agent from the stores may find them and collect the order; that such an agent calls daily at the offices so indicated, collects orders, and frequently delivers to such offices later in the day the goods so ordered; whether, seeing that the association is a private trading concern, he will say what, if any, are the conditions and terms upon which the association is afforded such privileges; and whether he will grant the same privileges to any and every suitable trader who applies for them?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe reply to the first three parts of the question is in the affirmative. The practice which, I understand, also prevails in other Government Departments, is one of long standing and has proved both useful and convenient in the past. I do not consider that any useful purpose would be served by adopting the suggestion contained in the last part of the hon. Member's question.
§ Mr. GLYN-JONESIs it a proper thing for any Government Department to offer any private trading concern any special privileges?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI understand that this practice has been in existence ever since the C.S.S.A., Ld., was founded, it has continued a very long time, and it seems not to have been inconvenient to the members of the staff.
§ Mr. GLYN-JONESDocs the right hon. Gentleman suggest that it is only the members of the staff who purchase goods from these stores who should be considered and not the shopkeeping community?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEIt is not a question of fact at all. This is an association started by Civil servants for their own benefit.