HC Deb 13 December 1926 vol 200 cc2534-5

Motion made, and Question proposed, That a Return be Ordered of Motions for Adjournment under Standing Order No. 10, showing the date of such Motion, the name of the Member proposing, the definite matter of urgent public importance, and the result of any Division taken thereon during Session 1926 (in continuation of Parliamentary Paper, No. 202, of Session 1924–25)."—[The Deputy-Chairman of Ways and Means.]

Mr. H. WILLIAMS

During a. Debate on the Supplementary Estimates last February, I took occasion to draw attention to what I thought was a waste of public money in the printing of a great many of these documents which it is now proposed should be reprinted. I know that the amount involved is small, but the only way in the long run to effect economy is to protest against minor extravagancies, and for these reasons I desire to call attention to the unnecessary expenditure of public money in the printing of this return and the subsequent returns mentioned on the Order Paper.

The DEPUTY-CHAIRMAN of WAYS and MEANS (Captain FitzRoy)

I do not think the hon. Member need be alarmed at the amount of the Estimate for printing these returns. He will find that nearly all these returns have been cut down to the absolute limit, and the amount of the expenditure will be very small. The second and third returns are printed in the ordinary way, and are available in the Vote Office. With regard to the other six, five of them are merely historical memoranda of what takes place in regard to private Bills, etc. One of them is in manuscript form. It refers to the sittings of the House and is available in the Library, but is not printed. The total expenditure upon these returns, leaving out the first one, amounts to £67 9s. Considering the amount of information that is given in the returns, I do not think that is an extravagant sum.

Mr. THOMAS

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what would be the comparative cost of printing these Returns and the cost of printing in the OFFICIAL REPORT the objection raised in the hon. Member's speech?

The DEPUTY-CHAIRMAN

If the various costs of Returns other than those are to be compared, I might point out that the total cost of the second and third Returns, those dealing with the Business of the House and the Closure of Debate, amount together to less than the cost entailed by two Divisions, each of which costs about £12. If hon. Members are anxious for economy it is easy to see how economies can be effected.

Captain WEDGWOOD BENN

While I realise that the sum involved is very small, may I ask whether there is any continued necessity for these Returns, quite apart from any question of economy. I say nothing about Return No. 4, but if we look at No. 6, it is a question as to whether there is any merit in printing just a number of documents which do not deal with subject matter at all. In regard to Return No. 7 and Return No. 9, I should have thought there was no continuing necessity for these Returns.

Mr. SPEAKER

It is Three o'clock. The question must be put off till To-morrow.