HC Deb 24 November 1920 vol 135 cc468-9W
Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESS

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the impossibility of those who are employed during the day making use of the British Museum library on weekdays before 6 p.m., he will make arrangements to keep it open in the evenings after that hour, and also to open it on Sundays?

Mr. BALDWIN

As regards the proposal to keep the library upon after 6 o'clock I must refer the hon. and gallant Member to my reply to the hon. Member for West Newington on 24th March last. I am advised that there is still no evidence of any public demand sufficient to justify the expenditure involved. The library has never hitherto been opened on Sundays and, apart from the question of expense, this part of the proposal would involve a strain on the library staff, which I do not think could be justified.