§ 12. Sir EDWARD GRIGGasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that in certain of the Crown Colonies in the West Indies the archives of the Colony are kept in unsuitable buildings, unprotected against fire; that the documents are unsorted and rapidly decaying; that similar conditions prevail in Crown Colonies in other parts of the Empire; and whether, in view of the unique character of these records, he will take steps to ensure their preservation?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe importance of the proper preservation of official records was impressed upon Colonial Governments in a circular dispatch addresed to them in January, 1929. That dispatch also stated that in cases in which the retention of those records in the Colony involved unavoidable risk of serious deterioration endeavours would be made to provide accommodation for them in this country. If my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind specific instances in which Colonial records are not adequately preserved and will furnish me with information as to the particular territories in question, I shall be happy to have inquiries made on the subject.