§ 34. Mr. Boydenasked the Minister of Public Building and Works what progress has been made in reducing the accumulation of laboratory material waiting to be treated in his Department's Ancient Monuments Laboratory.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Public Building and Works (Mr. Richard Sharples)Progress has been hampered by accommodation difficulties and by shortage of staff, but the conservation laboratory is now being established, with more extensive facilities, in the building occupied by the rest of the Inspectorate of Ancient Monuments. An increased complement of technical staff has also been agreed.
§ Mr. BoydenWhat is the present accumulation? Is the laboratory able to deal with things currently as they come in or is there serious delay?
§ Mr. SharplesThere is still a certain accumulation and this will not be resolved until the Laboratory gets its new accommodation. We are also increasing the staff.