§ Mr. TOUCHEasked the Secretary to the Treasury if he can state whether, in accordance with the former practice, six months' stock of halfpenny and penny postage stamps is now held at Somerset House, including both old and new designs, or what period of consumption the total stock represents; and can he say for what period the existing stock of new George V. penny and halfpenny stamps is sufficient to supply the requirements of the United Kingdom?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe stock of halfpenny and penny postage stamps now held represents about seven weeks' consumption. The existing stock of new George V. stamps is sufficient for the requirements of a few days.
§ Mr. TOUCHEasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether either Messrs. De la Rue or Messrs. Harrison object to a disclosure of the difference between their tenders for the manufacture of adhesive postage stamps; if so, will he approach them with a view to their assent being obtained to his informing the House as to the amount of the saving effected by giving the contract to Messrs. Harrison; or, if neither of these firms object, will he state on what grounds he does not feel justified in communicating this information to the House?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEObjection is taken by both the firms to the disclosure of the figures of their tenders, though not for identical reasons.