§ Mr. FREDERICK WHYTEasked the Secretary to the Treasury if he can state since when the reports of Parliamentary proceedings upon Irish affairs have been available in separate bound volumes; whether he can state the grounds on which this practice was first adopted; and what additional annual cost is thereby entailed?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe practice of issuing Reports of Parliamentary Debates upon Irish affairs in separate bound volumes was first adopted, for the convenience of the Irish Office, in the Session of 1904. The cost is about £150 per annum, but this sum varies, of course, in accordance with the amount of attention given to Irish affairs during the Session of Parliament.
Mr. WILLIAM REDMONDMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not a fact that the expense of these volumes lessens the expense in other directions, inasmuch as the general volumes are not used so much?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI think that is very probable, but the hon. Gentleman is probably well acquainted with the details of this question, being a member of the Publications Committee.
§ Mr. WILLIAM O'BRIENMay I ask whether it is not a fact that during the whole of this Session there has not been a single day devoted to Irish affairs?
§ Mr. F. WHYTEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will consider the advisability of issuing separate volumes for other parts of the United Kingdom?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI was in correspondence with the Secretary for Scotland on the subject, and was informed that there was no necessity, and, so far as he was aware, there was no desire on the part of Scottish Members to have separate volumes. Otherwise I should have been prepared to consider the matter.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEWill the right hon. Gentleman consider a similar request if made on behalf of Wales?