§ Mr. MANDERasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many postcards were sold, giving illustrations of works of art, at the British Museum during each of the last three years; what profit was obtained for the, Revenue therefrom; and whether this profit is retained by the Treasury or goes to the authorities of the British Museum?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEThe number of postcards sold and amount of gross receipts in each of the last three years at the British Museum (Blooms-bury) was:
Number sold. Gross receipts. £ 1928–29 … … 655,579 3,666 1929–30 … … 684,661 3,774 1930–31 … … 689,088 3,971 These gross receipts are appropriated in aid of the British Museum Vote from which the costs of printing, selling and incidental charges are met. The expenditure incurred during the three years in question on printing postcards was £9,094, but replenishment of stock appreciably exceeded sales. The net profit cannot accurately be stated without considering the adjustment proper to be made in respect of increase of stock, the proportion of selling charges, which are not allocated between postcards and other articles for sale, to be attributed to the former, and the debits to be made for other charges against the gross profits.