HL Deb 16 July 1962 vol 242 cc525-6WA
THE EARL OF HARROWBY

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What percentage (and with figures) of books and documents destroyed during the war at the British Museum have been replaced, and what hopes remain as to any further efforts that can be made as to the residue.

THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (EARL JELLICOE)

About 40 per cent. of the volumes destroyed by enemy action have been replaced. Some 250,000 volumes were destroyed, and 150,000 are still missing. These represent about 120,000 missing titles among books and about 2,500 missing titles among periodicals. Efforts are still being made to replace the lost volumes, but as time goes on the work becomes more difficult, because in general it is the rarer works (though this does not necessarily mean the most important) which remain to be replaced.

House adjourned at nine minutes past six o'clock.