HC Deb 18 April 1944 vol 399 c32
62. Mr. Driberg

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will supply the monthly index without additional charge to such regular subscribers to HANSARD as request it.

The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Assheton)

There is no monthly index to HANSARD. As stated in my answer to the hon. Member on 5th April, there is an index to each volume which is published separately several weeks in advance of the hound volumes being available. This was introduced in 1940 for the convenience of Members when the free supply of the bound volumes was discontinued as a. war-time economy. Although it is available also to the public at 1s. a copy, only about 50 copies of each issue are sold. If it is continued as a permanency after the war, I would certainly be prepared to include it in the subscription price, but in the present serious paper shortage I do not feel justified in making it a free issue.

Mr. G. Strauss

Could the Minister take steps to make the index more accurate? It is most inaccurate.