§ Lord Henleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys library has been closed to the public.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Lord Skelmersdale)The Office of Population Censuses and Surveys library was closed to the public in January 1988 because of unexpected staff losses. These losses occurred just as a management review of all library services was scheduled to begin and it was considered unwise to replace the staff until this review1120WA was finished. The review has now reported, with several recommendations to improve the cost effectiveness of the library service. However, it also found that continued closure of the library would deprive the public of an extensive and valued source of information and would achieve savings only at the cost of generating additional work elsewhere in OPCS. Accordingly, the library will reopen to the public on 1st June 1988, although an appointments system will be introduced and there will be limits on the number of appointments each day. A press notice giving details of the new arrangements will be issued shortly.