§ 2.38 p.m.
§ LORD PEDDIEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government why Government publications are not available in the Northern cities until some time after they are offered for sale in London; whether they are aware that this practice places Northern commercial interests at some disadvantage compared with the South; and why steps cannot be taken to secure simultaneous availability at all H.M. Stationery Offices.]
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER (VISCOUNT BLAKENHAM)My Lords, non-Parliamentary publications are normally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office simultaneously in its London and regional bookshops at the opening of business on the day of publication. The principal Stationery Office agents also have supplies of the more important papers on the same day. It is not generally practicable to achieve simultaneous, countrywide publication of Parliamentary Papers in the same way, mainly because they often have to be produced at short notice which allows no time for distribution outside London before publication, but also because they must not 711 be released to the public before they are made available to Parliament. Although it is therefore unavoidable that Northern interests may be at some disadvantage with Parliamentary Papers, the Stationery Office tries to limit this with important Papers so far as possible and is considering whether anything more can be done.
§ LORD PEDDIEMy Lords, I thank the noble Viscount for that reply, in spite of the fact that it is completely unsatisfactory. I would ask the noble Viscount whether he is aware that Manchester is an important centre where there is an office of Her Majesty's Stationery Office, and that I have here a long list of publications which have not been available to Manchester's businessmen until two days after they have been made freely available in London.
§ VISCOUNT BLAKENHAMMy Lords, if the noble Lord would give me particulars, I will certainly have them looked into. I think he realises that the question of Parliamentary Privilege is something on which not only Members of another place but also we in this House place great importance. If he will give me any particulars, I will have them looked at.
§ LORD PEDDIEMy Lords, I will certainly do that. I am conscious that there is no question of the abuse of Parliamentary Privilege. I would ask whether the Government would consider the extension of equal facilities outside London. Particularly in view of the fact that businesses are being urged to withdraw their offices from London, equal facilities should be made available elsewhere.
§ VISCOUNT BLAKENHAMMy Lords, as I said in the last part of my Answer, the Stationery Office will consider whether anything more can be done. This is certainly an undertaking which I can give.
§ LORD PEDDIEI thank the noble Viscount.
LORD SALTOUNMy Lords, may I ask Her Majesty's Government a question arising directly out of the noble Lord's Question? Having regard to the difficulties which quite 712 clearly exist in communication between Scotland and London, and, in particular, the suburbs of London, may I ask whether they will not make a practice of allowing much more time than they are in the habit of doing at the moment between the Second Reading of a Bill affecting Scotland and its Committee stage? Further, are Her Majesty's Government aware that it is extremely difficult in the limited time available to get reasoned replies from one's authors in Scotland on matters affecting these Public Bills?
§ VISCOUNT BLAKENHAMMy Lords, on the last part of the noble Lord's question, he doubtless has his own personal experience, and I cannot comment on that. But, on his first supplementary, I would comment that in fact the difficulties of Scotland are not so great as the difficulties the noble Lord, Lord Peddie, had in mind, because in fact all Scottish Parliamentary Papers are published simultaneously in Edinburgh and London.