§ LORD BANBURY OF SOUTHAM had on the Paper the Question—to ask His Majesty's Government whether the Southwark Borough Council refused to accept the lowest tender for a printing contract on the ground that some of the employees of the firm tendering were not members of a trade union; whether they accepted a higher tender, thus causing a loss to the ratepayers of £293 ; whether the district auditor surcharged the Council in this amount, and whether the Government have cancelled the surcharge ?
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, I desire to say, on behalf of my noble friend, that he is precluded by 229 indisposition from being in your Lordships' House to-day, and I am sure your Lordships will permit me to express his regret that he is unable to fulfil his engagement here, He also desires me to say that he will postpone his Question, by the leave of your Lordships, to some day next week.
§ LORD PARMOORMy Lords, the noble Lord was kind enough to send me a message that he could not be here to-day, and we all very much regret his indisposition. We will take his Question at any subsequent date which is convenient to him.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYNo doubt the noble Lord will communicate with the Government in reference to the matter.
§ LORD PARMOORWe will give the Question a date convenient to the noble Lord.