HC Deb 12 December 1944 vol 406 cc1045-6
59. Commander King-Hall

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will establish a branch of the Stationery Office in Glasgow, so that the inhabitants of that city may share with those of London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Cardiff and Belfast, the advantages of easily obtaining HANSARD and other Government publications.

The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Peake)

The Stationery Office has arrangements with a principal bookseller in Glasgow to give special attention to the sale of Government publications, and other leading booksellers in the city are also large customers for official publica- tions. The establishment of a special sale office in Glasgow would involve a use of man-power which could not at present be justified by increased sales or increased convenience to the public.

Commander King-Hall

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the agency he refers to is a cellar, that in that cellar there are no current issues of Government publications, and that, when one goes there, they tell one that they will write to Edinburgh for them, and that they may arrive in two days' time?

Mr. Peake

I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that the book-sellers of Glasgow are very enterprising people, and can obtain supplies very quickly from the neighbouring city of Edinburgh.

Commander King-Hall

Is my right hon. Friend aware that one cannot get the previous day's HANSARD in Glasgow?

Mr. Neil Maclean

Will the right hon. Gentleman give the address of that bookseller?

Mr. Peake

Messrs. J. Smith's, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.