§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Civil Service Department (Mr. Kenneth Baker)I regret to have to inform the House that due to a dispute in the Parliamentary Press it has not been possible to produce copies of HANSARD in the normal form. The dispute is over a pay claim by linotype operators. I have instructed Her Majesty's Stationery Office to continue urgent negotiations with the unions to seek a solution to the dispute. In the meantime arrangements will be made to limit inconvenience to the House. To that end available copies of HANSARD are being placed in the Library and the Whips' Office.
§ Mr. Evelyn KingIs my hon. Friend aware that for many decades a private printer, Luke Hansard, and thereafter his sons, printed parliamentary papers without any complaint? So effective was his work that his name became famous not only in the British Parliament but 1216 throughout the world. Further, is my hon. Friend aware that inefficiency began to set in when HANSARD was nationalised and when the printing was taken over by the Printing Office? Will my hon. Friend begin to seek persons who will be willing to take a pride in their job like old Luke Hansard?
§ Mr. BakerI am very much aware of the understandable impatience that hon. Members feel about the dislocation of the Press. I am sorry that it happens. The House may like to know that about one-quarter of the printing of parliamentary papers is done by private printers. It would be exceedingly difficult for someone to take on the printing of HANSARD.
§ Mr. DelargyIs the hon. Gentleman aware that this is an industrial dispute which causes practically no inconvenience to anybody?