§ Mr. Trotterasked the Minister for the Civil Service why there are Government bookshops in Bristol, Cardiff, Birmingham and Manchester and not in Newcastle or Leeds.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisThere is at present insufficient demand for Government publications in the Newcastle or Leeds areas to justify an official bookshop.
§ Mr. Trotterasked the Minister for the Civil Service why a loss of £348,971 was incurred on the operation of the Government bookshop in London for the last accounting year; and whether he is satisfied with its efficiency.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisThe losses in Her Majesty's Stationery Office London bookshops in 1973–74 occurred mainly in respect of mail orders and were due to sharp increases in costs which could not be offset by price increases under the Prices Code.
I am considering proposals made by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in conjunction with outside consultants designed to increase the efficiency of the distribution and sale of Government publications.