§ 69. Sir J. BUTCHERasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the high prices charged by His Majesty's Stationery Office for the volumes of the Peace Handbooks which 923 have recently been published, the prices varying from 10s. 6d. to 14s. per volume; whether, in order to enable ordinary members of the public to purchase these volumes, he will give directions that the prices shall be substantially reduced; and whether he will consider the propriety of making free grants of these volumes, or of such of them as can be spared, to public libraries?
Mr. HARMSWORTHThe prices of the Peace Handbooks barely cover the cost of production, and could not be further reduced without pecuniary loss. Each bound volume consists of several handbooks, which can be purchased separately. The sale of the Handbooks already issued is satisfactory; no copies of the present edition are likely to remain unsold, or become available for presentation to public libraries.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERCan the hon. Gentleman make known by advertisement or otherwise that these valuable handbooks, so largely used at the Peace Conference, are available for purchase by the general public?
Mr. HARMSWORTHI think the question of my hon. and learned Friend and the answer will give these handbooks a very good advertisement.