HC Deb 10 March 1881 vol 259 cc721-2
MR. HERMON

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether some arrangement can be made, independent of the Queen's Printer, whereby the extraordinary delay in the delivery of important papers to Members may be avoided?

LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISH

Sir, I believe the Question of the hon. Member is occasioned by the delay in presentation of the Reports of Election Commissions. After careful inquiry, I find that the responsibility for the delay in the publication does not by any means rest entirely with the printers. Four Commissions have reported—Sandwich, Knaresborough, Boston, and Canterbury. The delay in the delivery of the Copies of the evidence taken by the Sandwich Commission is mainly owing to an omission to present it. The Reports of the Knaresborough, Boston, and Canterbury Commissions were presented with evidence, containing in all from 500 to 630 pages each, within from four to six weeks of the dates on which they were received by the printers. The Sandwich Report was presented without evidence. The evidence, which formed a separate volume, not having been presented, no order was given to strike it off. The printers report that, had such an order been given, the delivery could have been made without difficulty several days ago.

MR. MITCHELL HENRY

asked whether the delay did not partly arise from the fact that the Stationery Office made its contract with the Queen's Printers, thereby throwing upon them an amount of work that they were unable to turn out? He referred particularly to the Report of the Agricultural Commission.

LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISH

Sir, I do not think that the delay is due to any excessive amount of work being thrown upon one firm. They can put on any staff and turn out any amount of work. The fact is, that printing and the correction of proofs is work that necessarily takes a considerable time.

MR. HERMON

Will the noble Lord put it up to competition?

LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISH

The arrangements of the office were revised by the right hon. Gentleman opposite (Mr. W. H. Smith) in a manner which reflects great credit on him, and, in effect, it was then put up to competition.