§ MR. BARTLEYI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that at least eight of the Reports of the Historic Manuscripts Commission are out of print; and whether, in view of their great interest, he will have them reprinted for sale?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Sir J. T. HIBBERT, Oldham)Practically the same question as that of my hon. Friend was asked in the House of Lords on July 31, 1890, when the answer made on behalf of the late Government was that as the reprinting could not be carried out without loss, and probably serious loss, to the Exchequer, the Government did not therefore propose to reprint. I am afraid that the 650 present state of the finances only accentuates the difficulty felt by the late Government.