§ SIR DENHAM NORREYSsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, why the Fourth Report of the Department of Science and Art has not been issued to Members with their Votes as in previous years; why it was not issued to Members before the 1st day of July (and then only on special application at the office for the sale of papers), the Estimate for the Department of Science and Art having been voted on the 29th day of June; and whether arrangements cannot he made to have the future Reports of the Department issued to Members at such a period of the Session as shall allow examination of the Report previous to the Estimate for the Department being voted by the House?
MR. WILSONsaid, the delay in presenting the Report arose from some mistake, in consequence of the Department of Science and Art being in the present year transferred from the control of the Board of Trade to that of the Board of Education. The reason why the Report was not issued to hon. Members was, because the Printing Committee had decided that papers presented by command, and being of a voluminous nature, and not in many cases of general interest, should not be distributed like the other Parliamentary papers, but should be given to hon. Members on application.
§ SIR DENHAM NORREYSsaid, he thought it desirable that some notice of the papers presented by command should be given to Members.
MR. WILSONsaid, he thought so too, and he would suggest that a list of such papers as were ready should be specified in the daily votes distributed to Members.