HC Deb 13 July 1978 vol 953 cc700-3W
Mr. Mike Thomas

asked the Lord President of the Council how many staff were employed in the Library in each of the last 10 years; how many were accommodated, respectively, in each year in (a) the precincts, and (b) the parliamentary buildings; of those in the precincts how many were accommodated in the main Library rooms, single rooms, double rooms, treble rooms and rooms accommodating four, five and six or more staff, respectively; and what other accommodation in the precincts is currently occupied by Library staff and equipment other than solely for book and document storage.

Mr. Foot,

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 10th July 1978; Vol. 953, c. 347], gave the following information:

STRENGTH AND APPROXIMATE MANNER OF ACCOMMODATION OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS LIBRARY STAFF 1968–69–1978–79
Numbers* full-time equivalent
Numbers accommodated:
Within the Palace of Westminster
Outside the Palace Main Library Single rooms§ Double rooms Treble rooms Four-person rooms Six or more person rooms Total within the Palace Total Library Staff
1968–69 23 1 6 9 8 6 53 53
1969–70 23 1 6 9 8 6 53 53
1970–71 23 1 6 9 8 6 53 53
1971–72 24 1 6 9 8 6 54 54
1972–73 4 27 2 6 6 4 6 51 55
1973–74 5 32 2 8 6 4 6 58 63
1974–75 5 32 2 8 6 4 6 58 63
1975–76 17 25 2 8 6 4 6 51 68
1976–77 18 31 1 8 6 4 6 56 74
1977–78 19 32 1 8 6 4 6 57 76
1978–79 21 30 1 8 9 4 6 58 79
* Including vacant posts; the figures are of the number of staff for which the Estimates make provision.
† The sizes of the rooms refer to the numbers actually accommodated rather than the theoretical capacities.
‡ Including some of the Library attendants who have no specific desks.
§ Librarian's room and Librarian's bedroom from 1972–73 to 1975–76; from 1976–77 the latter became a double room for secretarial staff.

Mr. Mike Thomas

asked the Lord President of the Council what accommodation is currently occupied by the Library in the North Curtain area and the area below Mr. Speaker's house by number and size of rooms.

Room Number: Location Room Use Area M2
Basement Level
5 Bookstore 20.50
4 Bookstore 13.50
3 Bookstore 13.50
2 Bookstore 13.50
Vaults Number 10 Bookstore 85.00
10 Bookstore 29.50
1 Bookstore 13.50
Next Number 10 Bookstore 22.30
15 Bookstore 24.20
11 Bookstore 44.00
16 Bookstore 13.64
22 Bookstore 24.40
17 Bookstore 21.75
18 Bookstore 8.70
19 Bookstore 15.60
20 Bookstore 13.20
21 Bookstore 14.28
Ground Floor Level
North Curtain Lobby Hark Room 32.69
42 Library Research 32.77
43 Secretaries 20.40
46 Library Research 20.77
1 Library Research 35.00
2 Office 12.42
3 Staff Rest Room 22.09
4 Office 14.10
5 Office/Store 65.80
6 Library Research 25.84
7 Bookstore 12.00
8 Copying/Store 26.45