§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current difficulties in printing parliamentary papers and particularly questions and motions at Her Majesty's Stationery Office's Parliamentary Press.
§ Mr. LilleyWith St. Stephen's Parliamentary Press now closed the new Parliamentary Press began to produce the Votes and Proceedings bundle from 20 October using new technology. Everything possible has been done in the summer recess to simulate live production and to ensure the necessary computer formats have been tested but there is no substitute for live production.
I regret that the very heavy submission of questions in the first few days following the recess led to difficulties which were compounded by a computer system fault which caused delays to the provision of printed papers in the usual form.
The Parliamentary Press is very conscious of the inconvenience caused to right hon. and hon. Members and is sparing no efforts to restore normal service. In the meantime copies of the papers will be produced in an alternative form and held in reserve for use if necessary until it is clear that system faults have been overcome.