§ 8. Dr. Strossasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now make possible the opening of the Reading Room in the British Museum for five nights a week.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydNo, Sir. I have nothing to add to the replies I gave to the hon. Member for St. Pancras, North (Mr. K. Robinson), on 21st February.
§ Dr. StrossHas not the right hon. and learned Gentleman noticed that the Reading Room is in future to close at 9 o'clock instead of at 9.30? Secondly, does he really believe that one of the greatest libraries in the world should be denied to people who have time only in the evenings, especially as about 100 are still there at 9 o'clock each night when the Reading Room is open?
§ Mr. LloydI have had a report on the matter. Not all the evidence tends the same way as the hon. Member suggests, but, as I have said before, I propose to give this experiment a full trial and then decide whether it should be extended or continued.
Mr. H. WilsonIn comparison with the very large figures that we were debating last week, would the Chancellor of the Exchequer say what would be the cost of doing what my hon. Friend asks? While taking note of what the right hon. and learned Gentleman said in his Budget speech about candle ends, may I ask whether this candle end is not rather too small for him to be chasing after when there are far bigger ones that he is not chasing after?
§ Mr. LloydIf the right hon. Gentleman gives me notice of that, I will consider the size of the candle end.
§ Mr. HaleWill the Chancellor also bear in mind that while every user of the Reading Room greatly appreciates the efficiency, courtesy and ability of the staff, it still takes nearly an hour and a half to get a book at the Reading Room as compared with twelve or fifteen minutes at the Bibliothèque Nationale?