§ Lord RITCHIE-CALDERasked Her Majesty's Government whether they have any statement to make on the price of the House of Lords Hansard.
§ Lord SHEPHERDHansard prices were last increased in January 1975 but, as production costs and overheads have since risen steeply, it is now necessary to increase the price of the Daily Edition from 22p to 33p and the Weekly Edition from 43p to 65p. There will be corresponding increases in the prices of Indexes, bound volumes and subscription rates. The revised prices will come into effect in January 1976, when Parliament resumes after the Christmas adjournment.
These increases in price are in line with the Government's policy of reviewing fees and charges at regular intervals in order to recover higher costs. Despite these increases, the publication of Hansard will still incur a substantial financial loss. The policy and principles for pricing Hansard are currently under review.
House adjourned at eight minutes before three o'clock.