§ MR. E. H. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, will he explain why Mr. H. W. Wilson, being engaged on a history of England between 1793 and 1815, was refused permission to consult the archives of his Department (now in the Record Office) for the period named; whether leave has been given to others to consult these documents; and whether he is aware that the Colonial Office and the Foreign Office have allowed Mr. Wilson to consult their archives covering the same period; and that such archives abroad are accessible even to foreigners?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENTPermission was refused in accordance with the established rule. The only permission that has ever been given to examine papers between these dates has been a restricted permission for certain papers before 1800. I have no information, I am afraid, in regard to the last paragraph of the Question.