§ 24. Mr. Rossasked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science the average number of books and scientific papers on loan per month from the National Lending Library for Science and Technology; and what proportion of current lending is to borrowers in Scotland.
§ Mr. Denzil FreethThe average number of publications lent by the National Lending Library for Science and Technology is now 11,900 per month; of these, about 4.5 per cent. are lent to borrowers in Scotland.
§ Mr. RossIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that this is an invaluable service, making available in the original language, or translation, knowledge of scientific development all over the world? Is he satisfied that its use is developing as much as he would like, and can he really be satisfied that our universities, our students, and those in industry and elsewhere are making the best possible use of this service?
§ Mr. FreethLike the hon. Gentleman, I could not be more keen on trying to get this Library more widely used, and I hope that this will occur as people learn more about the facilities it can offer.
§ Mr. RossIs it not up to the Minister, having made the Library available, to publicise as much as possible in the right quarters the fact that it exists, and the range and nature of the publications made available by it?
§ Mr. FreethI think that my noble Friend does that, and has done since the day he opened it.