GOVERNMENT STATIONERY CONTRACT

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (14:55): I have a supplementary question.

The SPEAKER: No, I think we've had enough.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: It's a genuine supp. sir.

The SPEAKER: Full marks for trying! The member for Lee.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: I should just point out that my last question was a question, not a supplementary, and therefore there wasn't a supplementary following a supplementary.

The SPEAKER: The member for Davenport is right. Let us hear the member for Stuart.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: My supplementary question is: can the minister advise the house whether he believes that, having given an exemption for all of the schools in the entire state, it is likely that compensation will need to be paid to the successful tenderer which thought that it had an exclusive contract?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I am not sure that it is a supplementary. The Minister for Finance.

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN (Napier—Minister for Finance, Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:56): No.

The SPEAKER: The member for Lee.