§ LORD IRONSIDEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made on the building plans for housing the National Reference Library for Science and Invention on the South Bank site which has been made available by the Greater London Council.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF PUBLIC BUILDING AND WORKS (LORD WINTERBOTTOM)My Lords, I regret that progress on this scheme has suffered 1541 a severe set-back, because the Greater London Council have discontinued negotions on the South Bank site for the National Reference Library of Science and Invention, which they now require for another urgent purpose of their own. My right honourable friend is now searching for a suitable alternative site for the Library.
§ LORD IRONSIDEMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that Answer, which I think is disappointing, I should like to ask him this question. In view of the fact that administrative difficulties arise out of operating the Library in two parts—namely, in Holborn and in Bayswater—and that these difficulties will tend to increase rather than diminish, would he urge his right honourable friend to pursue this matter of a site, and to pursue it as a matter of urgency, so as to settle it firmly and finally?
§ LORD WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, the problem is recognised. The present situation is entirely unsatisfactory, since that part of the Library which is in Whiteley's building at Bayswater is thoroughly unsuitable for the work in hand. One or two possibilities in London are being investigated now, and I will press upon my right honourable friend the need for urgency in this matter.
§ LORD IRONSIDEMy Lords, would the noble Lord, when looking for an alternative site for the Library, also bear in mind that it is important to make sure that it has good access by public transport, and that, if possible, it should be centrally placed?
§ LORD WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, I will take note of that point.
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, while also thanking the noble Lord for the information he has given us, both in his original reply and in the supplementaries, may I remind him that this matter was raised two months ago during a debate on the Arts, and that the Government spokesman then told us that it was being looked into as a matter of urgency? Can he tell us when a decision on it will be forthcoming?
§ LORD WINTERBOTTOMNo, my Lords, I am afraid I cannot. But in view of the sudden cessation of the negotiations with the Greater London 1542 Council, I am afraid we have to start again from scratch.
§ SERAL NOBLE LORDS: No!
§ SEVERAL NOBLE LORDS: Ask him!
EARL JELLICOEMay I ask the noble Lord whether he is aware that in the Report of the Trustees of the British Museum, which was published a matter of months ago, full publicity was given to this subject, and that it was then reported that there had been this breakdown of negotiations with the Greater London Council?
§ LORD WINTERBOTTOMYes, my Lords; but I am certain that the noble Earl will recognise that land in London is in short supply and that it is not so easy to find the large site required for an organisation of this sort.
§ LORD LEATHERLANDMy Lords, may I try to be helpful? May I ask my noble friend whether he recollects that as a result of the Greater London Act many of the boroughs of London have been merged, so that one borough now has two or three, and in one case four, town halls? Would not some of these old, disused town halls be useful for this purpose?
§ LORD WINTERBOTTOMI thank my noble friend for his helpful suggestion.