HL Deb 14 December 1970 vol 313 cc1269-70WA
BARONESS BROOKE OF YSTRAD-FELLTE

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have any statement to make on the price of Hansard of the House of Lords.

EARL JELLICOE

For many yearsHansard has been sold at much less than cost, and its present price has remained unchanged since October, 1967. Since then production costs and overheads have risen steeply, resulting in a loss on copies sold to the public of £142,000 in 1969–70. It is expected that this loss will increase to £161,000 in the present financial year.

In order to improve the financial position of Hansard, we have reluctantly decided that the price of the Daily Edition must be raised from 2s. 3d. to 3s. 7d. (18p) and that of the Weekly Edition from 7s. 10d. to 10s. 0d. (50p), with corresponding increases in the prices of Indexes, Standing Committee Debates, bound volumes and subscription rates. It is estimated that these increases, which will operate from January 12, 1971, when Parliament resumes after the Christmas adjournment, will reduce the loss on copies sold to the public to about £100,000 a year, the same level as after the 1967 price increase.

House adjourned at five minutes before eight o'clock.