MR. WEIGHT (Lancashire, S.W., Leigh)asked MR. Chancellor of the Exchequer, If the Government will sanction the expense of supplying Parliamentary Reports of Education, Crime, Pauperism, County Expenditure, and other Returns connected with County Government, also Returns of Army and Navy Estimates, to free libraries and mechanics' institutions?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Lord RANDOLPH CHURCHILL) (Paddington, S.)I have examined carefully into this matter, and, to a considerable extent, I am in sympathy with the object of the hon. Gentleman. I think it must be admitted that it would be to the advantage of the Government establishments that free libraries should be encouraged by a quasi- State recognition, and it is also obvious that it is to the advantage of the State that people should have ready access to official information as supplied by State and Parliamentary literature. The hon. Member will perceive that the Government must draw a broad distinction between free libraries and mechanics' institutions, free libraries being establishments moderate in number and well defined, and mechanics' institutions being of many sorts and also very numerous. As far 1723 as free libraries are concerned, what I propose is this—that they should apply to the Treasury for such Parliamentary documents as they may be of opinion will be of advantage to the persons who frequent them; and I will engage next year to bring before the House an Estimate to defray the charge of supplying those documents gratis, and then leave it to the House to decide whether they think the expenditure ought to be incurred or not. The total charge for all Parliamentary Papers incurred by any individual or association who wishes to possess them would be £20 a-year under the present arrangement. The First Lord of the Treasury in the late Conservative Government made an arrangement by which free libraries could be supplied with these Papers at a discount of 25 per cent, which would bring the charge down to £15 a-year for free libraries. If, therefore, the Government were to supply every free library with all Parliamentary literature, the cost would be somewhere about £2,000 a-year. But I imagine that there is a large portion of Parliamentary literature which free libraries would not care to possess, and, therefore, I think it will be right to let them apply to the Treasury for such literature as they may require, and then let the House decide whether the cost should be incurred or not.