STATIONERY AND PRINTING. (Hansard, 25 February 1931)

§ Mr. A. M. SAMUEL
I hope that the Financial Secretary does not think that I am going to castigate him. I should like to ask a few questions about the Supplementary Estimate. I notice here that in Section E there is an increase of £24,000 for paper, and also that there is an increase for printing of £50,000. How was this Estimate made? In view of the fact that the cost of materials has probably fallen, it seems that the Estimate must have been pretty wide. Were allowances made for a fall in the cost of materials? With regard to Section F in page 23, "Voters' Lists," which shows an additional provision required of £50,000, perhaps the Financial 2227 Secretary will tell me how he came to overlook the necessity for making provision for voters' lists. It should have been foreseen that these things were required. And yet we have such a large sum as £50,000 put down. I notice that in "Miscellaneous Office Supplies" there is an item of 10,000 for calculating and other machinery. I do not take any exception to that. I am rather glad to see that this sort of thing has been extended, because I have always been of opinion that the Departments of His Majesty's Government do not use sufficient of these calculating and other machines. What kind of machines are they? Perhaps he will tell us. I should like him to tell us for what purpose they are to be used. Are they for the census, or are they included in the general office equipment of the Treasury and Ministry of Labour?
Is a policy being laid down now, such as there is in the great, industrial insurance offices, to introduce calculating machines so as to save labour and cut down the cost of expenditure With regard to Item (h) under Appropriations in Aid, I notice the word "advertisements"—£30,000. I dare say that that matter has given the Financial Secretary a considerable amount of trouble. Where do these advertisements appear? Are they in the Board of Trade Journal? How are they obtained? In what Government publications do they appear? Is the amount stated the net amount, after paying the commission and other costs of collecting the orders? How is it arrived at? There is Item (k), "Supplies on repayment terms." What does "repayment" mean? Is it a system of credit on the instalment plan of which we hear so much in America, or what does it mean? I am rather surprised that the total under Appropriations in Aid of £66,000 is so small. I should have assumed that there would have been savings arising from the removal of the printing office from where it used to be to Pocock Street. Has any assistance been credited to the Stationery Office which might have helped the Appropriations in Aid due to the change—I have forgotten the name of the street for the moment where the old printing place was situated—to Pocock Street, which we thought a year 2228 or more ago would bring about a considerable economy? I aim not going to oppose the Vote or give any trouble, but I should like the Financial Secretary to give me a running reply to the points which I have raised.

§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCE
The hon. Member has asked me a number of questions. In the first place, with regard to paper, the reason why the provision for paper is larger than was anticipated when the Estimate was formed is the decision which was taken with regard to the Telephone Directory. Members of the Committee are probably aware that it has been decided in future to issue the Telephone Directory in two parts. One of those parts will appear a month earlier than has been the practice hitherto. It has involved placing an order for paper a month earlier, and that is why it has come into this Vote instead of being postponed until the following year.

§ Mr. SAMUEL
Is that recoverable at all from the Post Office Estimates?

§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCE
I do not think the hon. Member can understand the point. The paper has to be ordered in time for printing, and at the present time the Directory has not been printed, and will not be printed before the end of the financial year. But the order for paper having to be given and the amount paid, the additional amount comes into the Estimates of the Stationery Office for the current year. That account amounts to about £14,000. The need of additional unemployment cards and forms owing to the increase of unemployment, which also was not anticipated, has meant about another £8,000, and general requirements about £2,000 more.

§ Mr. SAMUEL
What about the voters' lists?

§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCE
With regard to the printing of voters' lists, the reason why that charge is more than was anticipated is not that we did not anticipate voters' lists, or that we did not anticipate that there would be a good deal of cost entailed in printing them, but is the exceptionally large number of removals and changes at various times. The cost of printing those removals has involved us in this very considerable additional charge. With regard to the question of office supplies, about £6,000 is due for typewriters and repairs, and about 2229 £10,000 for calculating machines. The policy of replacing worn-out typewriters has been going on for some time, and most of the old war machines, of which there were a great number at one time, are becoming out-of-date and it will be necessary to purchase fresh machines to replace them. The hon. Member has asked where the calculating machines are used. They are used throughout the Departments. I do not think that the hon. Member wishes to know with meticulous accuracy how many there are in each Department, but, broadly speaking, they are used throughout the whole of the Civil Service. The hon. Gentleman asked me where, in the main, were the advertisements. They are, of course, mainly in the Telephone Directory.

§ Mr. SAMUEL
Are there no other publications?

§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCE
There are other publications, but the bulk of these advertisements are in the Telephone Directory, and it is chiefly from that source that the amount mentioned in the Appropriation-in-Aid has arisen. With respect to the question of repayments, certain Departments have sources other than Exchequer grants, for instance the Metropolitan Police, Trinity House, etc. Supplies are made by the Stationery Office, but the Office claims repayment.

Major DAVIES
With regard to the calculating machines, the Financial Secretary says that they have been distributed pretty generally throughout the Service. Has he any general or exact figures as to the effect of the introduction of these machines? Has there been a saving in the number of clerical staff? Generally speaking, the substitution of calculating machines means a reduction in permanent staff.

§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCE
I am afraid that I cannot give figures. These machines have only just been supplied, and it would probably be too early to say what has been the effect of the introduction of the additional calculating machines.