HC Deb 14 June 1948 vol 452 cc12-3
18. Mr. John McKay

asked the Minister of Works if provision is being made for a full-sized Reference Room in the new House of Commons, so that there will be reasonable sitting space for Members and more accommodation to meet the needs of the Reference Staff for better organisation, material and general needs.

Mr. Key

. No, Sir. The Select Committee on Rebuilding did not include a Reference Room in their plans for the new House of Commons.

Mr. McKay

Does my right hon. Friend acknowledge that the Reference Room has been very valuable to hon. Members, that it is well-known that it was too small and inconvenient, that there was no seating accommodation, and as it is an important factor in the Library facilities ought not something to be done in this matter?

Mr. Keeling

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Library Committee would be happy to consider any representations made about the Reference Room?

Mr. Key

In the first place, I should like to say that such a question should be referred to the Library Committee rather than to me. I am carrying out the decisions of the Select Committee on Rebuilding.

Earl Winterton

Is the Minister aware that inadvertently he did an injustice to the Select Committee, because we could not recommend on this subject as it was outside our terms of reference? We were not allowed to deal with the general rearrangement of rooms, because we had very limited terms of reference.

Mr. Key

That may be true of the Select Committee, but it is also true of His Majesty's Minister of Works.

Mr. Hector Hughes

Under the head of accommodation will the Minister arrange to provide silencers to deaden the loud conversation that takes place in the Reference Room, or alternatively to provide a conversation room?