§ 35. Mr. Onslowasked the Lord President of the Council why it has been found necessary to suspend the running index of Parliamentary Questions in the House of Commons Library; and when this facility will be restored.
§ 36. Mr. Sharplesasked the Lord President of the Council what steps he is taking to ensure that the Library of the House of Commons obtains the staff necessary to enable it to carry out its functions.
§ The Lord President of the Council (Mr. Herbert Bowden)Since alternative methods of identifying Questions were available, the running index was discontinued in order to save staff. It will be for the Library Sub-Committee of the Select Committee on House of Commons (Services) to consider the facilities to be provided by the Library and the Staff required.
§ Mr. OnslowIs the Lord President of the Council aware that though this suspension may have saved staff it has not saved time; and that it has had the effect of putting a greater burden on the reduced number of staff in the Library?
§ Mr. BowdenThere is probably something in this point, but the Library Sub-Committee was only set up at 10 o'clock last night—I think under the chairmanship of my hon. Friend the Member for Nelson and Colne (Mr. Sydney Silverman)—and these matters will be looked at.
§ Mr. SharplesIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that some of the difficulties in the Library, including the running of this index, are caused, I understand, by the refusal of the Treasury to agree to the appointment of staff to fill vacancies caused by temporary staff leaving? Will he please look into this matter himself?
§ Mr. BowdenWe have already looked into it. At the first meeting of the House of Commons Services Committee, the Chairman of the Sub-Committee on the Library was asked to look at this matter urgently and specifically.