Vol. 257 No. 8
asked the Minister for Transport and Power the cost of Christmas cards and greetings sent by him in 1970; if postage was provided free by his Department and, if so, the cost; and the estimated cost of cards on order this year and if the cards will be sent free of charge.
36.
andMr. L'Estrange asked the Minister for Transport and Power the projected cost to the Exchequer during the financial year 1971-72 of the sending of Christmas cards by him.
37.
andMr. L'Estrange asked the Minister for Transport and Power the total number of hours during which civil servants were engaged in sending Christmas cards from him in 1970 and the projected corresponding number for 1971.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 35, 36 and 37 together.
The cost of Christmas greeting cards sent by me in 1970 was £50. The cards were dispatched as departmental post and there is no separate postal record of the cost, but it is estimated at about £26.
The cost of the Christmas cards which I am sending this year is £51. They will be dispatched as departmental post at an estimated cost of £32.
The dispatch of the cards is integrated into the normal routine duties of the staff of my office and it would not be possible to give an accurate estimate of the staff time involved.
Would the Minister ensure that none of them is posted to the redundant workers in Athlone?
That is a separate question.
It might be unparliamentary if I told the Minister where he could post them.
They will be posted to all my good friends. All my good friends in the constituency will receive my cards.
None of them are redundant.
The Minister must not have too many friends.
