HC Deb 03 December 1942 vol 385 cc1300-1
55. Commander King-Hall

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the average number of copies of Hansard sold per issue during the past month or any other convenient period?

The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Captain Crookshank)

The average number of copies sold of the Daily Reports of House of Commons Debates published during October, 1942, is 2,215 copies.

64. Commander King-Hall

asked the Minister of Information how many copies of Hansard are issued to Ministry of Information committees in constituencies?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information (Mr. Thurtle)

With one exception, there is no issue of Hansard to local information committees.

Commander King-Hall

Where a committee desire to have a copy, can they have it?

Mr. Thurtle

I think that can be considered; but we have no information at all that there is' any desire on the part of these committees to have these Reports. In view of the financial expense and the paper involved, we are naturally reluctant to force the Reports on them.

Commander King-Hall

Is it not extraordinary that the Ministry of Information should not encourage the public to have access to the only place where a proper report of Parliament can be obtained?

Mr. Thurtle

If we get evidence of a general desire on the part of the committees to have copies of the Report, we will take that into consideration, but we do not want to send copies to the local committees and have them lie there unwrapped.

Mr. Mander

In view of the very short reports in the Press at present of Parliamentary proceedings, does my hon. Friend not think it would be right to send copies round to these committees?