§ 18. Mr. GINNELLasked the total cost, including compilation, checking, printing, and distributing, of any large Blue Book that cannot be produced in time for any practical purpose, such as Returns of assurance companies, and its utility as shown by the amount realised by sale of it; whether the attention of any Committee investigating expenditure has been called to the expenditure of time and money on such a book; if so, with what result; and whether he will consider the possibility, when asking this House to order the printing of a document of such dimensions, to embody in the notice for that purpose an estimate of the probable gross cost?
§ Mr. W. BENNIf the hon. Member refers to the Return of Assurance Companies, H.C. Paper 426–1 of 1913, the cost of printing and distribution was £330 and the sale, when completed, will realise about £50. The matter would come within the terms of reference of the Select Committee on Publications and Debates Reports. The cost of compilation is a question for the Board of Trade, but I would remind the hon. Member that these Returns are presented under Act of Parliament.
§ Mr. GINNELLIf they are presented under an Act of Parliament, how is that they are described on the cover as "Printed by order of the House of Commons"?
§ Mr. W. BENNThere is no doubt, if the Return specified in the hon. Member's question is the same as that to which the answer refers, that it is presented under an Act of Parliament, and must be presented unless that Act is repealed.