§ 41. Mr. T. Johnstonasked the Post master-General the approximate proportion of printing work for his Department 21 executed in Scotland, England and Wales respectively; and whether the telephone directories for Scottish towns, now printed in England, are the subject of competitive tender?
§ Major TryonThe printing for the Post Office is undertaken by the Stationery Office. It has been ascertained that the proportions of printing work for the Post Office carried out in Scotland, England and Wales are approximately:
The printing of telephone directories is not the subject of competitive tender but is carried out by the Stationery Office Press, in accordance with the recommendations of the Gretton Committee on Government printing establishments.
- Scotland, 1½per cent.
- England, 98 per cent.
- Wales,½ per cent.
§ Mr. JohnstonIn view of the fact that 98 per cent. of the State printing is done in England, in the neighbourhood of London, and 1½ per cent. in Scotland, and in view of the evidence tendered to the committee on the location of industry, will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman take steps to see that these contracts are better distributed?
§ Major TryonIn the present case, as I have said, there are no Post Office contracts. If the right hon. Gentleman has any representations to. make, perhaps he would make them to the Financial Secretary to the Treasury who is in charge of the Stationery Office Vote.
§ Mr. JohnstonDoes the right hon. and gallant Gentleman defend a system under which local telephone directories, for the far North of Scotland, have to be printed in the neighbourhood of London and then sent back to Scotland?
§ Major TryonIf the right hon. Gentleman is in favour of abandoning the State system and starting individual enterprise in this matter, perhaps he will be good enough to make representations in the proper quarter.
§ Mr. JohnstonDoes the right hon. and gallant Gentleman believe that by a silly misrepresentation of my question, he can "get away with it"?