HC Deb 06 July 1949 vol 466 cc2146-7
75. Mr. Swingler

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will take steps to speed up the disposal of books which are unwanted by the Royal Air Force and urgently needed by public libraries.

Mr. de Freitas

Every effort is being made to return to His Majesty's Stationery Office books no longer required by the Royal Air Force, and 103,000 were despatched during the last four weeks.

Mr. Swingler

Can my hon. Friend justify the fact that he is sitting on over one million books? Will he not demobilise some of these books together with the men for whom they were intended?

Mr. de Freitas

That is neither physically nor numerically correct. The number is less than 200,000, and my hon. Friend will see that very soon, at the present rate, all books we do not require will have been returned to the Stationery Office.

Mr. Swingler

Is my hon. Friend aware that his right hon. and learned Friend told me that there were over one million books now in the possession of the Royal Air Force?

Mr. de Freitas

I am not aware of that. I will investigate the position and see which figure is correct.