69. Mr. Astorasked the Minister of Information whether he will propose an arrangement whereby Hansard would be supplied free to any member of the Congress of the United States of America who desired it, in return for which Members of Parliament would be entitled to receive the Congressional Record?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information (Mr. Thurtle)Copies of Hansard go to the Library of Congress, and the Library of this House receives a copy of the Congressional Record. So far as I know, these facilities have been found adequate for their purpose.
Mr. AstorIs the hon. Gentleman aware that, human nature being what it is, that arrangement means that M.P.s do not read the Congressional Record and that Members of Congress do not read Hansard? Will he see whether this suggestion cannot be considered?
§ Mr. ThurtleOur information is that there is no general demand for these facilities. If we find a queue in the Library waiting to read the Congressional Record, we will reconsider the matter.
§ Commander King-HallIs the hon. Gentleman aware that his information is not up-to-date in the matter? I have recently been to Washington and have been requested by Members of Congress to see if anything could be done to provide facilities for them to get copies of Hansard.
§ Mr. ThurtleWe have received no request from America for more copies than the one they are receiving.
§ Major PetherickWill the hon. Gentleman begin by issuing to every Member of Parliament a copy of the official record of another place?
Colonel Arthur EvansWill the hon. Gentleman send a dozen copies of Hansard instead of one and see how that experiment works?