§ Mr. JOHNSTONasked the Prime Minister whether he will arrange for the issue free, or at a cheap rate, to the Members of the House of Commons of the minutes of evidence and appendices of evidence given before the Royal Commission on Food Prices?
The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY(Mr. Guinness)The general position with regard to the supply of non-Parliamentary publications to Members was set out in the reply given by my predecessor to Mr. Sturrock on the 1st April, 1924. Members who desire copies of the volumes containing the minutes of evidence and appendices will be supplied with copies if they apply as suggested in that reply to the Controller of the Stationery Office.
§ Mr. MARDY JONESIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the inconvenience to Members in not being able to get copies of various Papers at the Vote Office and having to apply for same in writing to the Comptroller-General?
Mr. GUINNESSThe matter was gone into very carefully last year by my predecessor and arrangements are now in force under which all publications which are likely to be in demand by Members of Parliament are included in the Parliamentary Pink List, and it is obviously desirable, in the interests of economy, not to encourage the circulation of exceptional publications.
§ Mr. JONESIs it not a, fact that the list issued in the Pink Paper is a, very short one, and does not include many important papers which are necessary to our duties here as Members of Parliament?
Mr. GUINNESSAs I stated in my answer, any Stationery Office Paper which is reasonably necessary to any individual Member for the carrying out of his Parliamentary duties will be supplied.
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHIs it possible for Members to see a list of these Stationery Office Papers?