HC Deb 24 April 1956 vol 551 c1590
17. Mrs. L. Jeger

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total number of books in the National Library at the British Museum and the number issued to the Reading Room during the last convenient annual period.

Mr. H. Macmillan

The total number of volumes is currently estimated at 5½ million. The number of issues to readers in 1955 was 1,234,401.

Mrs. Jeger

In view of the comparatively small number of books actually issued, could the right hon. Gentleman ask the Trustees to reconsider the possibility of storing somewhere outside London a large number of books which are only kept because of the Copyright Act?

Mr. Macmillan

That is a matter which is always under their consideration. Still, I think that anybody who reads 1¼ million books in a year has not done badly.

Mr. Callaghan

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the issue of 1¼ million books makes his miserable contribution to the National Reference Libary of Science seem even more absurd?

Mr. Macmillan

No. The British Museum collection includes books dealing with a large number of subjects over many centuries.