§ 3. Mr. Beswickasked the Minister of Civil Aviation why he is unable to send to individual Members of Parliament, who are sufficiently interested to request them, copies of information hand-outs issued by his Department regarding new scheduled services agreed by him.
§ Mr. ProfumoThe needs of Members of Parliament are provided for by the Central Office of Information placing two copies of all Press notices in the Library of the House. In view of the extra expense which would be involved in sending Press notices to individual Members, I hope the House will regard the existing arrangement as adequate.
§ Mr. BeswickSurely the notices in the Library are not sufficient for the committee work which is necessarily carried on in relation to aviation? As the extra expense is a matter of l½d. for a stamp, will the hon. Gentleman look at this matter again?
§ Mr. ProfumoI have looked at the matter carefully. My Department sends copies of its Press notices to the offices of the Parliamentary Labour Party and the Conservative Party Research Department, and these sources should give hon. Members all the information they want without our having to take any further action.
§ Mr. BeswickIs the hon. Gentleman aware that any reputable commercial firm would be only too willing to send information about its activities to hon. Members who are interested? I again urge him to look into the matter.
§ Mr. ColegateWill my hon. Friend bear in mind that most of us get so many papers that we shall be very grateful not to get any more?