HC Deb 25 May 1909 vol 5 cc1012-3
Viscount HELMSLEY

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether it is the practice of the printers of Acts of Parliament to issue them to persons concerned in their administration incorrectly printed, whole parts of sections sometimes being omitted; and, if so, what steps are taken to correct the errors?

The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Hobhouse)

I presume that the Noble Lord refers to an error which occurred in the omission of part of a sub-section from the Children Act. No blame attaches to the printers for this error, which was due to an oversight for which they were not responsible. As soon as the error was discovered the printers were instructed to re-issue the sheet in which it occurred with the error corrected. No similar error has, it is believed, been made before.

Viscount HELMSLEY

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the corrections do not appear in the official copy in the Library?

Mr. HOBHOUSE

I think that is quite possible.

Viscount HELMSLEY

Is it not an extremely dangerous precedent that the printers should omit certain sections?

Mr. HOBHOUSE

It is not the fault of the printers at all.