§ MR. CHARLES HOBHOUSETo ask the Secretary of State for War what is the cost of preparing the Annual Report of the Army Medical Department; at what date the Report is generally presented; what is the cause of the delay in its presentation to Parliament; and whether it would be possible to expedite it in future.
635 (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) The cost of the printing and paper of the Army Medical Department Report falls upon the Stationery Office Votes. It naturally depends on the size of the Report, but I have ascertained that the cost of the Report recently published may be taken as about £180. The Report is generally presented eighteen months after the year to which the Returns refer. It was explained to the hon. Member last year, in reply to a Question, that many of the Returns do not reach this country till the late autumn, owing to the labour of compilation, and that a considerable period is required for the elaboration of the Report from these Returns. I am afraid, therefore, that it is not practicable to expedite its publication.