§ 29. Mr. Darlingasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will estimate the financial savings in printing and other costs by simplifying the present lengthy titles of Ministers in official documents, in particular by reducing the printed titles of the appropriate Ministers to Minister of Local Government, Minister of Food, Foreign Secretary, Colonial Secretary, Scottish Secretary, Minister of Transport, Minister of Labour, and Minister of Pensions.
§ Mr. DarlingI understand that the Order Paper and printed reports come under your jurisdiction, Mr. Speaker, but if you would permit me to use the Order Paper as an example, may I ask the Chancellor whether he realises that I have counted the number of words that would have been saved in last week's Order Paper? The saving would have been in the region of 1.5 per cent. of paper and printing costs in addition to the saving of time, energy and labour spent by hon. Members and Clerks in writing out these fatuously long titles. May I ask the Chancellor whether he will consult with you, Mr. Speaker, and others concerned, to see if an arrangement of the type that I propose can be made?
Mr. AmoryI have not been able to afford the Civil Service manpower to carry out the detailed investigations that the hon. Member has carried out.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs the Chancellor aware that hon. Members on both sides, having heard an Answer from a Minister, thank the Minister for the Answer and that that wastes a great deal of time and space?