§ LORD AIREDALEMy 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 how many Parliamentary Papers were laid "in dummy" during the last week before the Summer Recess; and what useful purpose was served thereby.
§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (LORD WINDLESHAM)My Lords, 48 Parliamentary Papers were laid "in dummy" during the last week before the Summer Recess. This was necessary because authority for printing had to be obtained to enable Reports to be published during the Recess.
§ LORD AIREDALEMy Lords, I am much obliged to the noble Lord for that Answer, but did that not lead to 48 misleading entries in the Minutes of the 2 House, leading noble Lords to suppose that 48 Papers had been published when they had not? Would it not be better to have a system whereby Parliamentary Papers are laid before Parliament after they have been written, and not before?
§ LORD WINDLESHAMMy Lords, this is a mild fiction, but one I have been looking into because I know that the noble Lord, Lord Airedale, raised this same point last year. It is generally for the convenience of the public. Unless a printing order is given by another place, the Reports, although laid, cannot be printed and that would mean that for a period of perhaps up to three months the public would not have access to these Reports.