§ Mr. MITCHELL-THOMSONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the contract made in January last between His Majesty's Government and the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company for a transatlantic mail service; and if he will state the amount of the contributions of His Majesty's Government and the individual West Indian Colonies, respectively, under the new contract?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe document referred to by the hon. Member will shortly be submitted for the approval of this House. The annual subsidy payable to the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company in respect of the transatlantic portion of the West India mail service is £63,000; of this amount the Imperial Exchequer pays £40,000. The balance of £23,000 is paid by the various West Indian Colonies in the following proportions:—
| £ | |||
| Trinidad | … | … | 16,300 |
| Barbados | … | … | 4,000 |
| British Guiana | … | … | 2,700 |
§ Mr. MITCHELL-THOMSONIs the contract proposed to be submitted for approval this Session?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELYes.