HC Deb 10 March 1989 vol 148 c718W
Mr. Pike

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost in(a) real and (b) cash terms for each of the last five years to his Department and its predecessors producing and distributing printed material pertaining to consultation exercises on matters within his present. responsibilities as (i) Green Papers and (ii) White Papers

Mr. Freeman

Green and White Papers are generally published by HMSO. The Department, as did its predecessor the Department of Health and Social Security, purchase the number of copies they require of each paper for distribution internally, and to certain other recipients, from HMSO. The information on the costs of such purchases can be produced only at disproportionate cost. Records of distributions are not retained and retrospective distribution costs cannot therefore be calculated.