HC Deb 06 March 1996 vol 273 cc251-2W
Mr. Maclennan

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make it his policy that public libraries will receive a 50 per cent. discount on official publications after the privatisation of HMSO. [19231]

Mr. Freeman

I can confirm that there are no plans to end the current arrangements for subsidising public libraries in this respect. After privatisation, the subsidy will continue to be administered from within Government by the residual HMSO, and will be entirely separate from the privatised business.

Mr. Maclennan

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make it his policy that no restriction will be imposed on the copying of official publications for private study after the privatisation of HMSO. [19233]

Mr. Freeman

The current arrangements for administering Crown copyright allow documents covered by it to be copied for purposes of private study. As I explained in the answer I gave to the hon. Member for East Surrey (Mr. Ainsworth) on 9 February,Official Report, column 370, privatisation of HMSO will not alter these arrangements, and control of Crown copyright will remain in the Government.

Mr. Maclennan

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the safeguards he proposes to ensure the continued efficiency of the distribution of official publications after the privatisation of HMSO. [19276]

Mr. Freeman

The criteria for selecting the winning bid for HMSO will place great emphasis on the commitment and ability of each bidder to meet customers' requirements.

Arrangements for distributing official publications, whether by HMSO or otherwise, are determined by the originating Department. After privatisation, each customer will have a legally binding contract with the privatised stationery office, or another supplier, for those services. The contracts can specify all aspects of a customer's requirements.

Mr. Maclennan

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish the findings made by consultants to estimate the probable effect of the proposed privatisation of HMSO on the prices to the public of official publications. [19278]

Mr. Freeman

There is no reason to believe that prices of official publications will be adversely affected by privatisation. HMSO's publications business already operates on a fully commercial basis, receiving no subsidy, and meets all of its costs by charging customers. After privatisation, it will remain open to originating Departments to specify cover prices, where necessary, in their contracts with the stationery office or elsewhere.

Mr. Maclennan

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he will take to ensure that the "Daily List" and other lists of official publications, include the same material and are produced to the same time scales at present, after the privatisation of HMSO. [19277]

Mr. Freeman

The "Daily List" and other HMSO bibliographic information is maintained as it is essential for the operation of HMSO's publication and distribution functions. It is also in the commercial interests of HMSO to make the information generally available as it increases access to its products. The same internal needs and commercial pressures will apply to the new owner.