HC Deb 09 July 1906 vol 160 cc527-8
MR. MENZIES (Lanarkshire, S.)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury what was the cost to the country of printing, publishing, and circulating Volume 4, Appendices to the Report of the Royal Commission on London Traffic; and whether he will consider the possibility, in the interests of economy, of adopting some other method of publishing and making known this matter to persons interested.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. MCKENNA,) Monmouthshire, N.

The cost of printing, including paper, of the volume in question was £1,552. There are no special charges for publishing and circulation, as this work is let out to sale agents. I will reply to the last part of my hon. friend's Question in my Answer to his next Question.

MR. MENZIES

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury what was the total cost of the whole eight volumes of the London Traffic Commission Report and Appendices; how many copies were printed; how many were sold and what amount was received for them; how many were distributed officially; how many are left on hand; and what steps, if any, he proposes to take to prevent a repetition of such expenditure.

MR. MCKENNA

The cost for printing and paper of the whole eight volumes was £6,380. In addition, I am informed, the Ordnance Survey incurred expenditure in preparing and printing maps amounting to £1,400 to March 31st last. The number of copies of all the volumes printed is 14,000. Of these 4,022 have been sold up to date, and the net amount received for them, after deducting the sale agents' percentages, is £2,637. I think it would be premature for me to make any statement in reply to the last part of my hon. friend's Question until the Report has been issued of the Select Committee which is now considering the subject.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)

asked if the hon. Gentleman could state how many hon. Members cared to have their bookshelves littered with this rubbish.

MR. MCKENNA

I have no information at this moment, but if the hon. Member desires I will have steps taken to find out.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

It is £8,000 wasted on rubbish.