HC Deb 26 October 1967 vol 751 cc549-50W
Mr. Cant

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the price of Hansard.

Mr. Harold Lever

For many years the selling price of HANSARD has been much less than cost and its present price has remained unchanged since 1962. Since then the number of pages has increased on average by about 13 per cent. and the production costs have risen as well.

For these reasons the loss on sale copies of the various editions has increased from £65,000 a year in 1962 to about £120,000 a year now.

We have therefore reluctantly decided that the price of the Daily Edition will be raised from 1s. 6d. to 2s. 3d. and that of the Weekly Edition from 4s. 6d. to 7s. with corresponding increases in the prices of indexes, Standing Committee Debates and subscription rates.

It is estimated that these increases, which will operate from the beginning of the new Session, will reduce the losses by about £20,000 a year.