Mr. James Callaghanasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the fact that his decision to close the HMSO bookshop in Cardiff means that Cardiff will be the only capital city in the United Kingdom deprived of this direct service, and since Cardiff, as the capital city of Wales, is the major administrative, legal and commercial city in the Principality, he will reconsider this decision.
§ Sir Geoffrey Howe[pursuant to his reply, 21 October 1982, c. 205]: This bookshop has been trading in deficit for some years and, despite the best efforts of the staff, losses have been growing. They were about 15 per cent. of turnover last year.
HMSO has already signed an agreement with the University Bookshop (Cardiff) Ltd. under which the latter 217W has been appointed as its official agent in Cardiff. Stocks are now being moved to the agent's premises. The University Bookshop will provide the full range of services previously available from HMSO. Postal customers—who provide 75 per cent. of the business—may order from another HMSO bookshop.
Continuity of experience will be provided through the re-employment in the University Bookshop of the former manager of the HMSO shop, together with a junior assistant.