HL Deb 20 June 1968 vol 293 cc844-6

3.9 p.m.

LORD SORENSEN

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the present position of the former Indian Library for which Her Majesty's Government was and is responsible; and whether any portions of that Library have been transferred to the Indian or Pakistan Governments respectively.]

BARONESS PHILLIPS

My Lords, the India Office Library is in the custody and control of Her Majesty's Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs. I can assure my noble friend that the Library remains intact: no portion of it has been transferred to the Indian or the Pakistan Government.

LORD SORENSEN

My Lords, may I ask whether my noble friend appreciates that discussions have been proceeding with regard to this Library for some twenty years? A claim has been made both by India and by Pakistan that they should have a portion of the Library. Would it not therefore be equitable to divide it up, possibly in unequal portions, and allow portions to go to the Pakistan Government and the Indian Government?

SEVERAL NOBLE LORDS: No!

BARONESS PHILLIPS

My Lords, my noble friend, if he is not already aware of it, may seek some reassurance from the fact that the question of the legal ownership of the India Office building and its contents is the subject of a tribunal which will comprise three members of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. In fact, the tribunal has not yet been set up, but this will be the matter discussed by it.

LORD SORENSEN

My Lords, as the old India House, which was first constructed and opened by the British Government, has been handed over to the Indian Government, would not my noble friend agree that this is a very good example that might be followed in this case?

LORD SALTOUN

My Lords, may I ask whether Her Majesty's Government are keeping under consideration modern methods of copying books so that the Library will not be altogether lost even if it is sub-divided and given away?

BARONESS PHILLIPS

Yes, my Lords, I will certainly give that assurance to the noble Lord. I will convey this point to my right honourable friend, though I feel certain that this is very much his concern.

VISCOUNT DILHORNE

My Lords, is the noble Baroness saying—I think she is, though I am not quite sure whether I am right in understanding it from her Answer—that until the tribunal has considered this matter there is no question of disposing of any part of this Library?

BARONESS PHILLIPS

My Lords, that is my understanding of the situation.