Lieut.-Colonel SPENDER CLAYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the losses in State printing, particularly at the Harrow and Dugdale Street works; and whether, in the interests of the taxpayer, he will, in the future, ask for tenders in open competition for State printing?
§ Mr. BALDWINI am aware that the accounts of the Harrow and Dugdale Street works showed a loss in the year to298W 31st March, 1921, but the other State printing works showed a profit. The Dugdale Street works, which also in former years had shown a profit, were closed on 31st March, 1921. The Harrow works are being run for an experimental period of three years and the question of their retention will come up for consideration next year. I may say, however, that the latest figures indicate that these works are now being run at a profit. Roughly two-thirds of the Government printing is being executed by private firms.