HC Deb 24 July 1894 vol 27 cc795-6
MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state the total number of publications coming within the definition of a newspaper, as defined by Statute, which are published by Government Departments, and also the name of each newspaper as published and the name of the person registered as its proprietor; and whether in each case the same personal responsibility, criminal and civil, attaches to the registered proprietor as would attach to him were he a private individual, or whether that responsibility is by understanding and in practice understood to be only nominal, and to be covered by the Treasury?

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

So far as I know, the only publications of the kind which appear to come within the definition in the Act 44 & 45 Vict., c. 60, Section 1, are The London and Dublin Gazettes, The Police Gazettes, London and Dublin, The Illustrated, Journal of Patents, The Trade Marks Journal, and The Customs Bills of Entry. I am not aware whether these publications are registered under the Act, but I am making inquiries. The Board of Trade Journal, The Labour Gazette, The Kew Bulletin, and the proposed Board of Agriculture Journal do not appear to come within the definition. I am afraid that I am not competent to answer the legal points raised in the question.