§ 36. Dr. David Owenasked the Lord President of the Council if he will recommend to the Services Committee that more space should be made available in the Library to allow hon. Members' personal research assistants open access.
§ Mr. CrossmanA rearrangement of space in the Library is now being considered as a result of Mr. Speaker generously agreeing to make his Library available to hon. Members. Details of the proposed rearrangement will be announced shortly. The admission to the Library, however, of Members' secretaries and personal research assistants is a wider question, and will be considered in the first place by the Library Sub-Committee in connection with its present inquiry into the long-term future of the Library.
§ Dr. OwenI am sure that the whole House is grateful to Mr. Speaker for the offer of his Library. Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a widespread wish to have personal research assistants—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."]—it may not be shared by hon. Members opposite—and that this wish is being thwarted by our inability to house them and let them have access to information?
§ Mr. CrossmanI think that my hon. Friend has over-simplified this problem. We all see the advantages of this to individual Members, but it has other repercussions and I am sure that the House would like to consider very carefully before making a major change of policy. I was, therefore, surely wise to say that the Library Sub-Committee should consider this as part of its viewing of the long-term future of the Library.
§ Sir R. CarySurely the Library must remain for the exclusive use of hon. Members?—[HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."]
§ Mr. ShinwellIs my right hon. Friend aware that, in view of the announcement he has just made, we should extend our thanks to Mr. Speaker for having acceded to a request that has been made over the 436 past 44 years, since I first came to the House?
§ Mr. CrossmanI am sure that my right hon. Friend represents the views of both sides of the House in that expression of gratitude.