HC Deb 20 October 1969 vol 788 cc765-6

3.44 p.m.

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. John Diamond)

With your permission, Mr. Speaker, and that of the House. I wish to make a statement about the supply of Government publications to Parliament and members of the public.

Owing to unofficial industrial action in the London presses and binderies of Her Majesty's Stationery Office, there is interference with the supply of parliamentary and other papers. HANSARD cannot be printed, but it is hoped that other papers necessary for the business of the House will be available.

Mr. Maudling

It is obviously disturbing that, once again, the supply of parliamentary papers has been interrupted, this time, I believe, for another cause, not distributing, but binding and printing. Without going into the merits of the dispute perhaps I might ask the Minister a question about this. The right hon. Gentleman says it is hoped that papers necessary for the business of the house will be available in one form or another. What do the Government regard as necessary papers, and what will they do if they are not available?

Mr. Diamond

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for recognising that this dispute stems from a different set of causes. The answer to his first question is that with the exception of HANSARD all papers necessary for parliamentary business during the remainder of this Session will, I think, be made available.

The answer to the right hon. Gentleman's further question is that as far as I am aware from consultation with my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House there should be no interruption of, and so no undue difficulty with, business for the rest of this Session. There will be minor inconvenience in connection with some of the papers, but I am grateful to those concerned who have made it possible for hon. Members to refer to typescript copies Of HANSARD in the Library.

Mr. Orme

Is it not a fact that on this occasion the workers on strike are from the lower-paid section of this industry? Is not this symptomatic of the general problem which is arising among lower-paid workers? Will my right hon. Friend draw the attention of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to this problem? Perhaps we might have a different attitude from the Government to lower-paid workers.

Mr. Diamond

I cannot say that, for the simple reason that there are two unions involved, one of which is working, and the other is not, and the same rates of pay are available to both.

Earl of Dalkeith

Is it not about time that we called the strikers' bluff by telling them honestly that we do not care a button if we never see another Government Bill so long as the present Government remain in office?

Mr. Diamond

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will draw that to the attention of his right hon. Friend the Member for Barnet (Mr. Maudling), who asked an entirely different question.

Mr. Speaker

May I add, for the convenience of the House, that I hope that it will be possible to-morrow to produce an Order Paper in the same form as today's, but with Questions for Written Answer also included.

In addition, it is hoped that a Notice Paper will be available comprising notices of Questions and Motions handed in on Friday and today, but not additional names to existing Motions. I advise hon. Members that it may not be possible to include in either paper any notices which are received after 6 o'clock this evening.