§ 40. Mr. Simsasked the Lord Privy Seal if he has any plans to review the present facilities for members of the public to have access to copies of House of Commons publications.
§ Mr. BiffenThe plans for the new parliamentary building include provision for a parliamentary bookshop accessible to the general public. I have no other plans to review or modify existing arrangements, which are primarily the responsibility of Her Majesty's Stationery Office.
§ Mr. SimsDoes my right hon. Friend realise how frustrating it is to members of the public not to be able to obtain copies of House of Commons documents referred to in the press? Is he aware, for example, that during the recess the Select Committee on Education, Science and Arts published an important report as the outcome of its inquiry into primary education, and I received representations from teachers in various parts of the country who had the utmost difficulty in getting hold of copies of that report? Would it not be possible for bookshops and newsagents to have, on a sale or return basis, copies of documents of that sort so that members of the general public could easily have access to them?
§ Mr. BiffenClearly, there was a misjudgment of demand in respect of the education document to which my hon. Friend referred. I shall, of course, take note of what he has said and refer it to the Stationery Office, which has primary responsibility in those matters.
§ Mr. DubsDoes the Leader of the House agree that the prices of House of Commons documents and HMSO documents are now so high that they effectively prevent many members of the public from being able to purchase them? Does not democracy demand that we make those documents available at prices that people can afford to pay?
§ Mr. BiffenAlready about £4 million is spent annually in subsidising the cost of the Official Report and certain related documents. If there is a matter that gives rise to great concern, the hon. Gentleman might inquire exactly what makes for the present cost structure.