§ Mr. MaclennanTo ask the Minister for the Arts whether, pending the sale of the Store street site, Her Majesty's Government will advance funds to the British Library to enable the safekeeping of the oriental collections in their present accommodation until such time as the St. Pancras building is ready to house them; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LuceThe British Library board has already decided in principle to take advantage of the opportunity to unite the oriental collections and the India Office library and records before the St. Pancras building is completed. This is expected to bring benefits to both management and readers. I am confident that the British Library will continue to exercise a proper concern for the safekeeping of its collections and the needs of readers.