§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total figure to date expended on the research for "The History of Parliament"; how much money has been allocated for this research; when it began; how many volumes have been completed; what has been the estimated cost of each volume; when the next volumes will be published; when the work is likely to be completed; and at what estimated total costs.
§ Mr. Diamond:Government subventions to date amount to £356,000 over 20 years, and a further £168,000 has been allocated for the 5-year period 1971–76. In addition, several most generous American citizens have, under the aegis of Yale University, provided $166,000 for research on one of the sections of the History.
The work of the History of Parliament Trust did not effectively begin until 1951. Three volumes, covering the period 1754–90, have been published since that date. It is not possible to make any useful estimate of the cost of that proportion of the research work between 1951 and 1962 which led to the production of these particular volumes as records were not kept in that way but the expenses of printing and publication were £18,000. Receipts from sales amounted to £20,000. Two more volumes will be published by H.M.S.O. within the next six months. It is not possible to predict when the work will be completed. Progress de- 76W pends on the availability of suitable researchers but the History is unlikely to be completed before 1986. The total cost is also difficult to forecast but could well be £750,000.