§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Lord President of the Council why on the demand form for sessional printed papers there is now a printed sentence "in view of escalating costs etc."; and what are the costs.
§ Mr. BiffenThe sentence referred to was added at the request of the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee of the Services Committee to draw to Members' attention the need to practise economy when obtaining the papers they require to enable them to carry out their parliamentary duties. There is of course no intention to interfere with Members' rights to secure these papers.
The cost of HMSO documents has increased substantially over the last few years. For example between 1978–79 and 1981–82 the price of the Vote Bundle has increased by 320 per cent.