§ Mr. TOUCHEasked over what period the present stock of stamps held by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue will supply the requirements of the United Kingdom; what stock has it been considered necessary in the past to hold in reserve at Somerset House; what quantity of stamps has been delivered at Somerset House by the new contractors since the 1st January; and do the quantities so delivered fulfil the conditions of the new contract?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe present stock of ½d. and 1d. postage stamps held by the Inland Revenue is sufficient to supply the requirements of the United Kingdom for a period of about two months. The stock of other denominations is sufficient for from six to twelve months. In the past it has been considered necessary to hold a reserve stock of ½d. and 1d. stamps sufficient to last six months. As it is proposed to issue the new George V. stamps at the1350W time of the Coronation it has not been considered necessary to maintain the former large reserve of the existing stamps. With regard to the third part of the question, a first delivery of sixty-eight reams has been made by the contractors, and the stamps so delivered fulfil the conditions of the new contract.