§ 3.2 p.m.
§ Viscount Whitelaw rose to move, That the report of the Informal Joint Committee on Library and Record Office Storage Accommodation, made to the Lord President and the Speaker of the House of Commons on 4th April, together with the Minutes of Evidence and Appendices, be printed.
§ The noble Viscount said: My Lords, I beg to move the second Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper. The purpose of this Motion is to authorise the printing and publication of the report which has been made to me and the Speaker in another place by the Informal Joint Committee on Library and Record Office Storage Accommodation. This committee was appointed in February last year. I am sure that it will be for the convenience of both Houses if their report is made generally available. Perhaps I may take this opportunity to express my thanks to all the members of the committee, and especially its Chairman, the noble Lord, Lord Trend, for all the hard work which they have put into this report.
606§ Moved, That the report of the Informal Joint Committee on Library and Record Office Storage Accommodation, made to the Lord President and the Speaker of the House of Commons on 4th April, together with the Minutes of Evidence and Appendices, be printed.—(Viscount Whitelaw.)
§ Viscount EcclesMy Lords, as I may not be here when this House debates this report may I ask my noble Leader to bear in mind that space for books and other material used in connection with the work of this House is more important than space for the archives? If the records and archives encroach more and more on the available space here, this House will suffer.
§ Viscount WhitelawMy Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend, who has unrivalled knowledge in this particular matter. I hope that he will read the report carefully. If it is debated when he is away, no doubt he will make his views known, as he always does, well and forcefully in the appropriate place.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.