§ MR. HAROLD COX (Preston)asked as to the publication with the Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday last of the Answers given to Questions addressed to the Chancellor of the Exchequer which, although starred Questions, were issued as if unstarred. He wished to know by what authority a Minister imposed that additional charge on the public.
§ *MR. SPEAKERsaid it would be inconvenient if all Ministers adopted the practice of issuing with the Votes Answers to Questions addressed to them verbally. But he did not think that was the practice. His attention had not been called to this particular matter, but it was sometimes convenient that where an Answer contained a number of figures it should be handed in at the Table.
§ SIR WALTER FOSTER (Derbyshire, Ilkeston)Might not a good deal of the cost of printing be saved if copies of complicated Answers were placed in the Library for reference?
§ *MR. SPEAKERIt may be convenient to hon. Members to have them printed with the Votes in case they wish to forward 97 copies to those at whose instance the Question is put.
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEMay I explain that the reason these Questions were handed in was that they contained a good many figures. The Answers were too long to read to the House, and I thought it better to hand them in.
§ MR. HAROLD COXI was notreferring to Answers of that nature.
§ MR. R. DUNCAN (Lanarkshire, Govan)asked to whom he should apply in the event of a Return promised not being printed.
§ *MR. SPEAKERIf the Return has been ordered by the House, and the hon. Member will address his remonstrance to me, I will inquire of the printer and get it as quickly as possible.
§ MR. R. DUNCANBut I decline to badger you, Sir.