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<p>The Commission has not carried out an assessment of potential disadvantages of
taking steps to decolonise the Library of the House of Commons. It notes that the
Library has been undertaking work to review and increase the diversity of its collection
since August 2020 and that while it has engaged in knowledge exchange with institutions
in the academic sector that are seeking to decolonise their curricula and library
collections, it has not adopted this as an approach to its own work.</p><p>The Commission
has not carried out an assessment of the potential impact of decolonisation of the
Library on the representation of Parliament’s history. However, it understands that
the Library’s work on the diversity of its collection is guided by the framework set
out in its Collection Development Policy which identifies the criteria used for acquisition,
retention and deselection of material. The purpose of the work is to ensure the collection
contains a wide range of perspectives which are representative of Britain past and
present. It has not changed the core focus of the collection on Parliament and devolved
legislatures, the history of UK and Ireland, politics and government or its commitment
to curate this as an enduring collection of national importance. It also has a clear
commitment to impartiality in its work.</p>
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