HC Deb 02 December 1969 vol 792 c1281
21. Mr. Macdonald

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state his estimates for the costs of reprinting the Statute Book by conventional methods, and by computer typesetting, respectively.

Mr. William Rodgers

This work may be the subject of competitive tender, so it would be undesirable to give estimates of cost.

Mr. Macdonald

If my hon. Friend has no idea of the comparative costs, on what basis does he contemplate the relative advantages of the two methods?

Mr. Rodgers

My hon. Friend misrepresents me. I did not say that I had no idea. I said that it would be undesirable to give estimates of cost for good reasons related to tendering.

22. Mr. Macdonald

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what date he expects to reach a decision whether to reprint the State Book by conventional methods or by computer typesetting.

Mr. William Rodgers

Not until a decision is taken on the form and timing of the reprint.

Mr. Macdonald

Will my hon. Friend take well into account the several advantages of the computer method, involving the existence of a permanent record, the fact that it can be amended easily, and that selective statutes can be extracted easily if necessary? Will he bear those facts in mind in coming to a decision?

Mr. Rodgers

Certainly, we shall.