HC Deb 17 July 1907 vol 178 cc674-5
MR. GINNELL

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury are all the members of the staff of the literary section of the British Museum now receiving full pay; if so, how are they occupied; and will he obtain from them an approximate estimate of the cost of that section, including books, manuscripts, reading rooms, and newspapers in the last completed year, the amount of this covered by Parliamentary Vote, and the amount, if any, defrayed from other sources.

(Answered by Mr. Runciman.) If by the "literary section" of the British Museum is meant the departments of printed books (including the reading room and newspaper room), Oriental printed books and manuscripts, and manuscripts, I am informed that all the members of the staff are now receiving full pay, and are occupied with multifarious duties, which cannot well be defined with precision and

Department. Salaries. Purchases. Bookbinding, etc. Printing, etc., catalogues.
£ £ £ £
Printed Books 19,451 7,018 7,800 2,231
Oriental printed books and manuscripts 2,495 902 242 267
Manuscripts 5,480 2,423 599 1,112

The sum of £175 was contributed by the Bridgewater Fund towards the salary of the Keeper of the Manuscripts, and £668 11s. 9d. from the Bridgewater and Farnborough Funds were spent in the purchase of manuscripts. With the exception of these amounts the expenditure shown above was covered by the Parliamentary Vote.