§ 57. Mr. Isaacsasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the shortage of paper, and the high percentage of unemployment in the printing industry, he will consider what economy can be effected by a change in size of type and lay-out and a change in size and substance of paper used for Government publications, thus setting an example to all paper users and setting free a larger margin of paper for use in the printing industry?
§ Captain CrookshankArrangements are already in force for effecting reductions both in the size of type used and in the margins of pages. Paper has already been reduced in quality and thickness and further reductions are under consideration.
§ 55. Mr. R. Gibson(forMr. David Adams) asked the Financial Secretary to 538 the Treasury, to what extent Government reports and other official publications have been cut down owing to war needs whilst private publishing concerns of all natures are maintaining their publication lists; and whether he will consider the desirability of issuing free Government publications exactly as in peace-time but in skeleton form containing all essential information in brief tables?
§ Captain CrookshankThe reduction or discontinuance of official reports and publications is under continuous review. The action taken is necessarily dependent upon the circumstances of the particular case, but full consideration is given to the possibility of continuing to issue such publications in a much reduced form, as the alternative to suspending them altogether. The hon. Member will, however, appreciate that the present shortage of paper and the pressing need for economy make it specially important to restrict free distribution.