HC Deb 29 November 1928 vol 223 c603
74. Sir H. BRITTAIN

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, with a view to obviating the inconvenience which would arise if, as proposed, the newspaper department of the British Museum is transferred to Hendon, he will suggest to the trustees that they should consider the practicability of making use of the vacant land in front of the museum for the construction of underground vaults as a depository for newspapers?

The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Arthur Michael Samuel)

The suggestion of the hon. Member has already been considered by the museum authorities. Apart from the heavy cost of construction, the proposed underground repository would be both inadequate and unsatisfactory.

Sir H. BRITTAIN

Would it be possible to find any place for these newspapers a little nearer than Hendon?

Mr. SAMUEL

I will make inquiries, I cannot say off-hand.