§ Mr. TOUCHEasked the Postmaster-General if the plates for the new issue of stamps were prepared by the Mint, and not, as under the former contract, by the contractors; and if the division of responsibility between the Mint and the new contractors has worked satisfactorily?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe plates for the new series of King George V. stamps were prepared by the Mint. The reply to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.
§ Mr. TOUCHEasked the Secretary to the Treasury if he can say whether the present contractors for the supply of postage stamps have recently been working by day, by night, and on Sundays to cope with the actual consumption?
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§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe present contractors have recently been working overtime, not for the purpose of coping with the actual consumption, with which they are capable of dealing in normal working hours, but with the object of accumulating reserve stocks.
§ Mr. TOUCHEasked the Secretary to the Treasury if he can say approximately what proportion of the recent deliveries of stamps by the new contractors have been printed from the De la Rue plates?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe approximate proportion of deliveries within the last fortnight of stamps printed from De la Rue plates is 40 per cent. of the total deliveries during the same period.
§ Mr. TOUCHEasked if the printing of the higher denominations of stamps is to be undertaken in the Inland Revenue printing department of Somerset House?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe denominations of adhesive stamps to be printed at Somerset House are the 6d. and 2s. 6d. unified postage and revenue, the 5s., 10s., and £l postage, and all the revenue and fee stamps proper.