§ 14. Dr. Grayasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs why the British Council has not provided a reading room for the city of Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India, in view of its size and importance.
§ Mrs. HartThe British Council already has four libraries and seven branch libraries operating in India. It will continue to keep the strong claims of Hyderabad in mind when further funds are available.
§ Dr. GrayI welcome that reply. Is my hon. Friend aware that not only the Americans but the French and the Germans have reading rooms in Hyderabad, that English is the lingua franca of South India, that Hyderabad has a population of 2 million and, as she has stressed, its claim for a reading room is extremely strong?
§ Mrs. HartI am aware of this. There are already three towns in this part of South India where British Council libraries are operating. We will consider this very sympathetically as soon as we can.