63. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that copies of many statutory rules and regulations are not available at the Stationery Office, he will instruct the appropriate Departments to make available to the public by other means the information needed to keep the public informed of the orders and regulations now in force.
§ Mr. Glenvil HallIf, as I assume, the hon. Member is referring to Statutory Instruments which are exempt from printing and publication under the Statutory Instruments Regulations, 1947, the answer is, "No, Sir." These instruments are for the most part either published in a separate series or are of a local character and not of sufficient general interest to warrant publication. In such cases, it is for the Department concerned to make copies available to interested persons, and I am satisfied that they do so already.
Mr. De la BèreIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that some 3,000 statutory rules and orders were issued in 1947, amounting to about eight a day? How can people possibly know what they are about, when they are not obtainable from the Stationery Office? Does it not, clearly, bring the whole thing into ridicule?
Mr. De la BèreIn view of the failure of the Minister to answer my question, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Motion for the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment.