§ 61. Sir M. Galpernasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why, in many instances, Parliamentary and White Papers are not available for sale to the public in Scotland simultaneously with their 120W availability in London; and if he will take steps to ensure that, in future, when such papers are published, Scotland is treated no differently from London.
§ Mr. MacDermotBecause of Parliamentary privilege and sometimes of security, Bills and certain other Parliamentary Papers cannot be released for distribution until the time fixed for publication. Within these limitations every effort is made to arrange for such of these documents as are of major interest to be available in other centres on the same day as in London. This was not possible in the case of the Finance Bill, which was published in the afternoon.
I am, however, investigating the possibility of improving the arrangements.
§ Mr. Wylieasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that major Government Bills such as the Rent Bill and the Finance Bill are not available in Her Majesty's Stationery Office in Edinburgh until the day after they become available to the public in London; what action he will take; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacDermotI would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave today to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Shettleston (Sir M. Galpern).