§ Mr. FisherTo ask the Minister for the Arts what is his latest estimate of(a) the date of completion of the current phase of construction of the new British Library and (b) the final cost of construction.
§ Mr. LuceWork on the current phase of construction, 1A, which began in 1982 is on schedule to be completed in798W 1993. The British Library will commence occupation of the building from 1991. A cash target for the construction of 1A has been established at £300 million. This is equivalent to the £242.5 million at second quarter 1987 prices which I reported to the House last December.
As I announced on 3 November, the Government have decided that the project will be completed by 1996 at a cost of £90 million at current prices. This will be converted into a cash target when detailed design work for the completion phase is finalised.