HC Deb 19 March 1931 vol 249 c2137
46. Mr. TURTON

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what was the cost incurred by the issue of bound volumes of Parliamentary Debates to Members during the last three years?

Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCE

The face value, on the basis of the selling price to the general public, of the bound volumes of Parliamentary Debates issued to Members of the House of Commons during the last three years, was:

£
Session 1928 1,447
Session 1928–29 1,183
Session 1929–30 2,541

But the cost, in the sense of the saving that would be effected if the free issue of bound volumes were cancelled, would only be a small fraction of these figures.

Mr. TURTON

Will the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, the need for economy being so stringent, consider setting the highest example to the nation by charging Members at cost price for these volumes?

Mr. PETHICK - LAWRENCE

The practice is—I think hon. Members know—to ask Members not to have the bound volumes unless they wish to have them, but I think, if an hon. Member wishes to have the record of the Debates for Parliamentary purposes, he should be allowed to have them.

Mr. MARJORIBANKS

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that an offer has been made by Members to pay for the bound volumes of the OFFICIAL REPORT and no notice has been taken of such offer?