§ Mr. KENRICKasked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether he will consent to Parliamentary Publications and Papers being supplied to Public Libraries free of charge?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. HENRY H. FOWLER)The question of supplying Parliamentary publications and papers to public libraries free of charge was very carefully considered by the late Government, and it was decided that it was not advisable to make the grants. In November last, the Comptroller of the Stationery Office was authorized to insert in the new contract for the sale of Government publications, which will come into force on January 1, 1887, a proviso that the contractor shall sell such publications to the accredited agents of free public libraries at the trade prices, a reduction of at least 25 per cent from the published prices. I have some sympathy with the object of the Question, and am now in communication with the Comptroller of the Stationery Office to see whether there are any further advantages that it will be possible to allow to free libraries, and whether certain papers cannot be given gratuitously.