HC Deb 14 May 1998 vol 312 cc163-4W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will publish the memoranda negotiated by the then Secretary of State of the Department of National Heritage relating to the purchase of the freehold property near Chancery Lane formerly known as the Great Seal Patent Office and Library by the British Library. [40144]

Mr. Fisher

The Minute which transferred the freehold of 25 Southampton Buildings, London WC2, from the Department of National Heritage to the British Library was laid before the House by the then Secretary of State on 4 July 1996. It is available in the Library of the House.

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the costs of the development of the British Library's INSIDE CD-ROM products have been since 1984; and how much sales revenue has been generated from these products. [40112]

Mr. Fisher

A series of four inside current awareness CD-ROMs have been published since 1993. The total development costs and revenues relating to them are:

  • Total development costs: £127,000
  • Total revenue: £684,125.

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the contracts with publishers which the British Library has entered into (i) by value and (ii) by publisher in the last 10 years. [40135]

Mr. Fisher

I have placed in the Library of the House a list of such contracts which the British Library has entered into over the last ten years and their respective values.

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the costs of the British Library's digital library programme are for the current year; what they are estimated to be in future years; and how many British Library staff are presently engaged in the programme. [40131]

Mr. Fisher

The cost of the British Library's digital library programme for the current year is planned at £639,000. The costs for future years are projected to decline as follows:

  • 1999–2000: £488,000
  • 2000–2001: £388,000
  • 2001–2002: £388,000.

There are eight staff dedicated to the digital library programme.