§ 2.52 p.m.
§ LORD SUDELEYMy 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 whether Her Majesty's Stationery Office will publish another volume of The History of the King's Works, which will continue the history from 1852 onwards.
§ LORD GARNSWORTHYMy Lords, as I understand the position, it has always been considered that the story of the King's Works ends in 1851, when the duties were taken over by a Government Department subject to full Parliamentary control and the history then becomes different in both character and scale. But I would add for the benefit of the noble Lord, Lord Sudeley, that three more volumes are to be published to cover the 582 period between 1485 and 1782. I hope that he will find that information helpful.
§ LORD SUDELEYMy Lords, I thank the Minister very much for that Answer. May I ask whether Her Majesty's Stationery Office might be persuaded to make better efforts to display and sell Volume VI of The History of the King's Works, published last November, bearing in mind the great inefficiency of Her Majesty's Stationery Office in disposing of whatever stocks they possess.
§ LORD GARNSWORTHYMy Lords, I am sure that note will be taken of what the noble Lord has said. He will appreciate that we have had very little opportunity of late to do very much about such matters.
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that many of us on this side are highly grateful to Her Majesty's Stationery Office and the Department of the Environment for the work they have done? In my opinion it is a most instructive work. I should like to know whether the noble Lord agrees with me.
§ LORD GARNSWORTHYMy Lords, I agree with what the noble Lord, Lord Mowbray and Stourton, has said, and I am quite sure that what he has said will be balanced against what the noble Lord, Lord Sudeley, has said.