§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (LORD SHACKLETON)My Lords, I should like to inform your Lordships about the rather unfortunate position we are in with regard to Parliamentary Papers. Your Lordships will have noticed that they have not been available to-day, but I gather that printing is being resumed this evening. At the same time, I understand there is a further complication on the packaging and distributing side of the Stationery Office. I hope that your Lordships will not press me to discuss the nature of the cause of this particular trouble, which is under negotiation at the moment, but it will affect the distribution of Hansard, the Minutes of Proceedings, Bills, Amendments, and so on; and it is likely that the normal distribution of Parliamentary Papers will cease.
The House authorities, who have already shown great resource in this matter, will try to ensure that a limited number of copies of these Papers continue to be available to Peers, both in the Printed Paper Office and in the Library. But in fairness to the staff of the House, I would, with great diffidence may I say, appeal to your Lordships to exercise restraint in the demands which we make on the Printed Paper Office. Also I should utter a warning that it may be impossible for Parliamentary Papers to be delivered by post during the continuation of the present difficulties.
§ LORD CARRINGTONMy Lords, I am sure that all your Lordships will do what you can to help the staff and the officials of the House in this situation. But I think one must say that, in so far as the absence of Papers to-day is concerned, we all rather deplore a stoppage of this kind for political reasons. It seems to me a very great pity. May I ask the noble Lord the Leader of the 946 House this question? He says that there is a further complication on the packaging and distributing side. That, I take it, is a euphemism for a strike. May I ask the noble Lord whether this is official or unofficial, and what is being done to stop it?
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, it is precisely because I would rather not comment on a dispute without being very carefully briefed on it that the choice before me to-day was either to say nothing, knowing that I was in no position to say a great deal, or to make the Statement I have made. I appreciate that the noble Lord is fully entitled to ask this question, and if I had information I would give it. But I think all noble Lords who are experienced in these matters know that "off the cuff" remarks on a particular dispute—euphemistic or otherwise as the term may be—could be unfortunate; and I should not wish to add to the difficulties. Clearly, if the House at some time would wish to know more about this particular matter and how it is going, the Government would be prepared to make a Statement. But I would rather leave it, and seek the indulgence of the House to-day, by not saying any more on the particular nature of the dispute, on which, in any case, I am not very fully informed.
§ LORD BYERSMy Lords, presumably if the dispute goes on for any length of time the noble Lord himself will keep the House informed. I should like to thank him for keeping us informed at this stage.
§ LORD SHACKLETONI am much obliged, my Lords.