HC Deb 02 July 1999 vol 334 cc284-5W
Mr. Dismore

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he will make a statement on the extent of use of paper containing acid for (i)theOfficial Report, (ii) House of Commons printed papers and (iii) other House of Commons documents of record; and what assessment he has made of the estimated durability and life expectancy of paper copies of (i), (ii) and (iii). [89112]

Mrs. Roe

The contract for the printing of the House's core documents (including theOfficial Report, Vote Bundle, Bills and Select Committee Reports) specifies the use of acid free paper of archival quality. The paper used has an alkali reserve of a minimum of 2 per cent., and an archival life in excess of 100 years.

Mr. Dismore

To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee what estimate he has made of the durability and life expectancy of paper copies of the(a) Official Report and (b) other documents of record held by the Library. [89111]

Mr. Allan

For information on the current standards for paper used for theOfficial Report and other House documents of record held by the Library, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him today by the Chairman of the Administration Committee, column 284.

The durability of older documents varies according to age, the type of paper used, the frequency of use and the storage conditions. The Library regularly monitors the condition of these documents and has a programme of conservation. It is aware of a particular problem with acidic paper used from about 1850 to 1950. Older Parliamentary Papers were moved in 1992 to controlled storage conditions in Broad Sanctuary, where there are also reserve volumes of the Official Report. The Library is investigating the feasibility of producing a digitised text of older Official Reports. As well as giving easy access to the text, this would also reduce use of the paper volumes and so aid their preservation.