§ 9. Mr. Callaghanasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what funds he proposes to make available for the establishment of a National Reference Library of Science and a lending library, in view of the recent Report of the Scientific Advisory Council.
§ Mr. H. MacmillanI am making £2,500 available during the current year for the purchase and binding of scientific periodicals as a beginning to the lending library, and £10,350 has been included in the Estimates for the purchase of books and periodicals for the Patent Office Library. This Library will eventually form the basis for the Reference Library. As regards capital expenditure for building, I am unable to add anything to the Answer given on 1st November by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works.
§ Mr. CallaghanDoes the Chancellor realise that we are completely frittering away our opportunities in this direction, and that if he incurred this small amount of expenditure on scientific development the rewards would be out of all proportion to the sum that we are asking him to put into it? If he can spare a few minutes from his lotteries, will he please look at this matter afresh?
§ Mr. MacmillanI assure the hon. Member that I am not allergic to expenditure on books.
§ Mr. CallaghanWhilst acknowledging that the right hon. Gentleman has faithfully declared his interest, may I ask whether he is not aware that what is needed is a new building in which to house the books, together with staff to see that the books are lent? Is the Chancellor interested in all that too? If not, he ought to be.
§ Mr. MacmillanHaving declared my interest, I think that any further questions could be asked of my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary.