§ 36. Mr. Grahamasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the problem of stocks of nitrate-based film at the National Film Archive.
§ Mr. Hugh JenkinsThe Health and Safety Executive will shortly complete a series of investigations into the safety of the storage of nitrate films at the National Film Archive, which I shall be visiting in the near future. I am advised that there is no immediate cause for alarm, but some facilities at the Archive have had to be restricted; additional temporary and permanent storage has recently ended the overstocking of the storage vaults. When the Health and Safety Executive has reported, the British 565W Film Institute, which is responsible for the Archive, will no doubt wish to discuss any necessary action with me. A further problem at the Archive is that of conserving the nitrate film and transferring it to stable film. I am anxious that this work should progress as fast as resources permit.