HC Deb 05 April 1894 vol 22 cc1444-5
MR. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury when the Index of The Parliamentary Debates for Session 1893–4 will be ready?

THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Sir J. T. HIBBERT,) Oldham

The contractor assures me that no pains are being spared to finish the Index referred to, but he cannot yet say precisely when it will be ready. I am sure my hon. Friend will appreciate the exceptional character of the case owing to the length of last Session, involving almost double the usual number of volumes, and the fact that the indexing for the present Session has to be proceeded with concurrently.

MR. BARTLEY

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a mouth has now passed since the Session closed, and that the Debates are really inaccessible without an Index? Would not a private firm have made up the Index in half the time?

SIR J. T. HIBBERT

It is certainly a month since the Session closed, but I may remind my hon. Friend the number of volumes has gone up from eight to 14, and we must make some allowance for the contractor under the circumstances.