§ Mr. R. Gibsonasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that printers in Scotland are on short time and many are unemployed while large contracts for posters and other Government work are being executed in England; and whether he will take steps to secure that a fair proportion of Government printing, in relation to personnel employed, will be given to Scotland?
§ Captain CrookshankShort time and unemployment in the printing trade obtain in England and Wales no less than in Scotland. The greater part of the printing required for the Government service is provided for under long-term contracts, some of which are held by printers in Scotland.
Certain war emergency printing is, however, a matter for ad hoccontracts for which Scottish, as well as English, 249W firms are invited to tender. Scottish firms have been successful in securing in competition a number of these contracts.
§ Mr. Ridleyasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many printers were employed in His Majesty's Stationery Office on 1st September, and how many are now employed?
§ Captain CrookshankThe number employed on the 1st September, 1939, was 2078. The number on 3rd November was 2270.