Publishing Industry (Hansard, 10 February 1988)

§ 14. Mr. Butler
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the level of output in the publishing industry in 1987 and in 1986.

§ Mr. Atkins
The index of production for the United Kingdom printing and publishing industries was 105.6 in 1986 and 116.3 in the first three quarters of 1987, based on 1980 equalling 100.

§ Mr. Butler
I thank my hon. Friend for his reply. Is that not a remarkable tribute to the publishing industry and to the economy as a whole? I know that the policy of the Labour party is to increase choice, but with over 52,000 titles being published every year in this country, is that not a mark of the range of choice provided by capitalism?

§ Mr. Atkins
My hon. Friend's general philosophy is quite right. However, I am delighted to say that he was slightly wrong in the number of titles. The number of book titles published in 1986 was 58,000, which was an all-time record and yet again evidence of a success story.

§ Mr. Dalyell
To which of the hon. Gentleman's ministerial colleagues should our congratulations be sent for the boost that they have given to the publishing industry by the use of injunctions?

§ Mr. Atkins
It would seem, as ever, that the lawyers always win.