HL Deb 30 March 1882 vol 268 cc281-2
LORD THURLOW

, in asking the House to concur in the Resolutions embodying the recommendations of the Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament which sat last Session to consider the first Report of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office, said, that they were brief but important. The Treasury and the Stationery Office considered that, if carried out, they would not only lead to considerable economies being effected, but would also expedite and simplify all matters connected with the printing, storage, and distribution of Parliamentary Papers. There was only one other point to which he should allude—it was the promulgation list, to which a noble Lord (Lord Monteagle) referred last year. This list was now under revision by the Home Office and Treasury; and when it emerged from that process it would be found that the names of obsolete Offices and officials supposed to be supplied with copies of the Statutes had been expunged. He would only add that these Resolutions had already received the approval of the other House of Parliament, and he trusted their Lordships would agree to them. He begged to move the following Resolutions:—

  1. "(1.) That the present system, under which this House employs for its ordinary work a separate printer, working independently of, and without reference to, other Government contracts, is inexpedient, and he at the first convenient opportunity discontinued:
  2. "(2.) That the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury he authorised to make preliminary arrangements, and at the proper time to lay open to public competition, and enter into contracts to provide, in such manner as they may think hest, for all the printing of this House, other than the printing of the Minutes of Proceedings and Journals; provided that such contracts made, either separately or in connexion with other printing for the Public Service, shall he laid he fore the House not less than forty days, and shall then take effect, unless disapproved by the House:
  3. "(3.) That all Papers printed by order of this House, or presented by Command of Her Majesty, other than those required for the use of Lords or officers of this House, he placed under the custody of the Stationery Office; all such Papers to he as far as possible made easily accessible to the public by purchase, and the proceeds to be paid into the Exchequer."

Resolutions agreed to.