HC Deb 03 March 1966 vol 725 cc1475-6
35. Mr. J. H. Osborn

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what work his Department, either through the Computer Centre or otherwise, will sponsor during the current year on scientific and technological information storage, abstraction, and retrieval; what discussions he has had with museums, libraries, and publishers; and how much money will be allocated to this work during the current year.

Mr. Prentice

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Dr. Wyndham Davies) on 15th February. The Office for Scientific and Technical Information is undertaking a wide range of activities in this field and maintains close and regular contact, both at staff level and through the Advisory Committee for Scientific and Technical Information, with all major organisations that have a substantial interest in its work.

I shall be happy to provide the hon. Member with a list of the more important activities if he so desires.

Mr. Osborn

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that reply. Is he aware that the first part of his Answer illustrates the need for an active experiment with the Library of the House of Commons so that we may have readily available and tabulated information about what hon. Gentlemen opposite say by way of statements, Answers and speeches at various times?

Mr. Prentice

I will look into that suggestion.