§ 35. Captain Viscount CURZONasked the Home Secretary whether the new Census forms are being sent out with a covering slip containing an advertisement for the hon. Member for South Hackney; whether this was done with his approval; and is he aware that there is, in consequence, considerable danger of the character of the document being mistaken?
§ Sir A. MONDAs I have already stated in reply to a similar question by the hon. Member for Rother Valley, the document is not a form to be filled up, but simply a leaflet which had to be issued notifying the change of dates resulting from the postponement of the Census. I was advised that I could provide for the whole cost of that postponement by letting the back of the leaflet for an advertisement to be contracted for by the Stationery Office. The result has in fact been to relieve the taxpayer of the whole cost.
§ Viscount CURZONDoes the right hon. Gentleman not think the covering slip was liable to be mistaken for an advertisement for "John Bull," and therefore put into the waste paper basket?
§ Sir A. MONDI should not think so.
§ Captain ELLIOTIs it not the case that by this means the hon. Member for South Hackney got the advertisement for his paper delivered at every house for the cost of one farthing, whereas the Postmaster-General would have charged him 1d? Is that consistent with anti-waste?
§ Viscountess ASTORIs it not rather expensive economy?
§ Sir A. MONDI fail to see why.