§ Lord Teviotasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will make a further statement on the situation at the Public Record Office, Kew.
§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone)The coolers in the air-conditioning plant at the Public Record Office at Kew were shut down on 20th February for planned maintenance. This time of year had been chosen as being likely to cause minimum inconvenience, given normal outside air temperature.
On completion of the maintenance, difficulties were experienced in restarting the turbine coolers. Conditions within the building deteriorated progressively and it became necessary to close it to the public on 5th March.
The cooling plant has now been repaired and is again working normally. Conditions in the building are returning to normal and it will be reopened to the public on Thursday, 15th March.