§ Lord Teviotasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have received the report of the independent review of the Public Record Office building at Kew which was commissioned last year by the Lord Chancellor and the Secretary of the Environment.
§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone)The report has now been received and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Investigation of the building and its services, by independent consultants Messrs. Donald Smith, Seymour and Rooley, has been painstaking in detail and comprehensive in coverage. No major faults have been revealed in the building or its services; nor has the investigation revealed anything which would explain the outbreak of illness which led to the closure of the building last year. The report does, however, indicate a need for some improvements to achieve a more satisfactory environment for readers, staff and records.
The consultants have proposed a number of measures, including modifications to the air-conditioning and humidifier systems. In particular, they recommend a completely new control and monitoring system to provide an improved and more effective control over environmental conditions within the building.
The Government accept the general conclusions of this report and are taking steps to carry out the recommendations without delay.