§ 28. Major Sir HERBERT CAYZERasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, having regard to the delay and inconvenience caused to solicitors, bankers, merchants, etc., in having to send documents through the post for stamping purposes, consideration will be given to the question of the reinstatement of the stamp offices at Portsmouth and Southampton, which were closed on the ground of economy in 1921; and what the cost would be if one or both of these offices were re-established?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Duff Cooper)The interval of time which elapses between presentation of documents for stamping and their return is not, I am advised, 1372 greater at Southampton and Portsmouth than at many other towns similarly circumstanced and is in any case not considerable. The offices were closed in the interests of national economy on the ground that the volume of work was insufficient to employ a full time staff. This condition still exists and I regret, therefore, that I am unable to agree to reopening the offices. To reopen either of the offices would involve a capital expenditure of about £2,000 and an annual expenditure of about £700.
§ Mr. CRAVEN-ELLISCould not some of this work be done in post offices? There are many simple documents now coming to London which could easily be attended to at a post office.
§ Mr. COOPERI do not think that would be practicable without increasing the staff.