§ 70. Lord BALNIELasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is yet in a position to state the Government's decision on the application of the National Central Library for an increased grant-in-aid?
§ Mr. W. S. MORRISONYes, Sir. Subject to the reservation that they are unable without specific statutory authority to pledge future administrations or Parliament to continuing public expenditure, the Government are prepared, firstly, to increase the grant-in-aid at present made to the Library from public funds by £2,000 to £5,000 for each of the next two years, and, secondly, on condition that the aggregate subscriptions to the Library, by local, university and special, Libraries have by the end of that period been increased by at least the same figure and are maintained at the increased level, to continue the increased grant-in-aid for a further three years. I am glad to have this opportunity of stating that the Trustees of the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust have generously agreed to extend for the same period of five years the grant of £4,000 per annum made by them to the Library.
§ Sir WILLIAM DAVISONCan my hon. Friend say esactly where the National Central Library is situated, and what it is?
§ Mr. MORRISONI do not think that that arises out of the question.
§ Sir W. DAVISONWhat is the use of asking a question if there is nothing to arise out of it?
§ Mr. MORRISONIt is a geographical rather than a financial question.