§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is her estimate of the proportion of internationally available scientific literature and patent collections available in conditions of open access at each of the British library's reading rooms. [459]
§ Mr. SproatThe British library's science reference and information service acquires some 1 million patent specifications annually, which it estimates to constitute some 99 per cent. of the world's published output of such specifications. Sixty-one per cent. of the material held by the science reference and information service in this category is available either on open access, or is accessible to those users holding a vault pass. Of the total estimated 81,000 scientific periodicals published world-wide, the British library estimates that the science reference and information service currently receives 20,000 research titles. Material in English published during the last 10 years, and material published in other languages during the last two to three years, is held on open access, representing some 26 per cent. of the total research periodicals held by the science reference and information service. It is not possible to estimate the total number of scientific monographs published throughout the world. The science reference and information service receives some 4,500 new scientific monograph titles at research level published in the UK each year through legal deposit, and acquires foreign titles in line with the acquisition funds available.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the total value of properties which have been sold from the British library estate. [440]
§ Mr. SproatThe library sold its freehold in 14 Store street, London WC1, for £5.5 million on 19 August 1991. I understand that no other property held by the British library has been sold.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what leaseback arrangements have been registered in the use of properties in the British library estate. [439]
§ Mr. SproatNone.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what has been the total number of voluntary and compulsory redundancies at each of the branches of the British library in the last five years. [460]
§ Mr. SproatNo British library staff have been subject to either voluntary or compulsory redundancy prior to March 1996. Forty-nine employees of the British library accepted the terms of a voluntary redundancy programme which was offered in March 1996, 13 of whom have already left the library's employment and a further 12 of whom will do so during the remainder of the present financial year.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what estimates she has of the value of the two British library related assets in Tooks court, London WC2. [438]
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§ Mr. SproatThe premises at 25 Southampton buildings, London WC2, adjoin Tooks court, and house part of the British library's science reference and information service. The property, part of which is leased by the British library, was valued at £6 million as at 13 November 1995.