HC Deb 15 May 1952 vol 500 c1620
32. Sir E. Keeling

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury which of the non-Parliamentary periodicals published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office are issued at a loss; and what the annual loss is in each case.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

As the answer contains a number of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Sir E. Keeling

Can my hon. Friend say now how many run at a loss; and does he really think it necessary that the taxpayer should finance all these publications such as, for instance, the periodical "Impact of Science on Society," published quarterly?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

The number of publications run at a loss is eight. The total loss is something under ££2,000 a year on those eight, but I am glad to be able to reassure my hon. Friend by telling him that that loss is more than offset by the profit on one other publication, the "Board of Trade Journal."

Following is the answer:

Rate of loss £ per annum
Ministry of Labour Gazette 920
Ministry of Food Bulletin 230
Road Abstracts 200
Building Science Abstracts 160
Fuel Abstracts 110
Water Pollution Abstracts 110
Registrar-General's Weekly and Quarterly Returns, England and Wales 180
Registrar-General's Weekly and Quarterly Returns, Scotland 70

These losses are balanced by surpluses on other periodicals.