asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the cost of (a) printing, (b) allotting and issuing, and (c) distributing the recent issue of ration books.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Issue of Ration Books.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the total expenditure on the recent issue of ration books.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state (a) the date on which the last issue of ration books was made, (b) the number of ration books issued and (c) the cost of issue.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the outlay involved in the compilation, production and distribution of the two main types of general ration books recently issued by his Department.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state how many ration books have been printed and distributed recently, the total cost of printing and distribution and why such an expenditure was undertaken in view of the proposal to abolish rationing as from 1st July, 1952.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 together.
The total number of ration books involved in the recent issue was 3,025,978. The decision that there should be a fresh issue of ration books was taken by the previous Government. The contract for the printing was placed in February, 1951. The cost of the paper and printing was £58,357. A contract for the addressing, etc., of the ration books was made on the 1st May, 1951, for the sum of £20,621. Other expenses incurred in connection with the addressing, etc., of the books amounted to £1,324. The total cost involved in the printing and preparation of the books for distribution was, therefore, £80,302. The ration books were distributed through the post in January last and no extra expenditure was incurred. The Department of Posts and Telegraphs will, however, take credit in its accounts for a sum of £31,145 representing postage on these books at the standard rate. It was originally intended that the new ration books would be brought into use in May, 1952, when the previous ration book would have become exhausted.