§ MR. W. H. SMITHasked the Secretary to the Treasury, If the Government will take steps to expedite the printing and delivery of Parliamentary Papers to Members?
§ MR. COURTNEYDelays in the circulation of Parliamentary Papers after they have been presented are, to a certain extent, inevitable, especially at certain times, such as the beginning of the Session, when all the Estimates and Appropriation Accounts are being printed at once, and by the same printer. But no doubt the right hon. Gentleman refers to delays which are, apparently, not inevitable, and are often undesirable and inconvenient. With regard to these, I may say that the Government are anxious to reduce such delays to a minimum. We have been for some time attacking the problem from several sides; firstly, by discouraging Motions in this House for unnecessary or unimportant Returns, and by trying to avoid the printing of Returns which, though proper to be given to the House, are not of sufficient general interest to justify printing; secondly, by trying to reduce the bulk of the matter contained in the numerous periodical Papers and Returns presented under Act or otherwise, and to prevent repetition of the same matter in two places; thirdly, by trying to arrange for a sort of order in the distribution, whereby the less urgent work may be postponed to the more urgent. As regards the South African Papers which recently led to some severe remarks upon the printers, I have received a remonstrance from those gentlemen, and special inquiry is being made. I may add, with reference to a paragraph sent to The Pall Mall Gazette, that there has been no change which could lead to any delay since the present Controller has been appointed.