§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Attorney-General when the Kew Public Record Office will be properly open to the public again; and whether he will make a statement
§ The Solicitor-GeneralAs the Lord Chancellor announced on 13 March, the Public Record Office at Kew was closed to the public on 5 March after problems with the air-conditioning plant had led to a progressive deterioration of conditions in the building. Although the 519W Office was reopened on 15 March, it has now again become necessary to close it to the public until further notice. Some members of staff have developed symptons of a general malaise which include headache, gritty eyes and sore throat, accompanied in some cases by fever. These symptoms could be caused by the relative humidity levels in the building or else by the presence of microorganisms. The Health and Safety Executive is conducting tests to establish whether the symptoms displayed correlate with so-called "humidifier fever". That illness is, I understand, neither serious nor lasting and it has no chronic or long-term effects. Until the cause of the illness has been correctly diagnosed and eliminated, however, the Public Record Office must remain closed. The inconvenience to readers is most unfortunate, but it is a tribute to the staff at Kew that readers have continued to be served during the recent very difficult period. I understand that the Lord Chancellor is commissioning an independent survey of the building, including the air-conditioning system.