Vol. 257 No. 8
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the cost of Christmas cards and greetings sent by his Parliamentary Secretary 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.
46.
andMr. L'Estrange asked the Minister for Social Welfare the projected cost to the Exchequer during the financial year 1971-72 of the sending of Christmas cards by his Parliamentary Secretary.
47.
andMr. L'Estrange asked the Minister for Social Welfare the total number of hours during which civil servants were engaged in sending Christmas cards from his Parliamentary Secretary in 1970 and the projected corresponding number for 1971.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 45, 46 and 47 together.
The cost of officially provided Christmas cards sent by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Welfare in 1970 was £25. The cards were dispatched as Departmental post and there was no separate postage cost.
Christmas cards ordered for the Parliamentary Secretary this year will cost approximately £20 and it is proposed to dispatch them as Departmental post.
As the sending of the cards is included in the normal work of the officials concerned, it is not possible to state the number of hours work involved.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary say if the Minister is sending a Christmas card to those from whom the dole was taken?
I shall send one to the Deputy if he wishes.
