§ 41. Mr. GUYasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has considered the report from the Keeper of the Registers and Records on the condition of the public records in the Register House; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?
§ 40. Lord SCONEasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is now in a position to make a statement on the condition of the Scottish records?
§ Mr. SKELTONMy right hon. Friend has considered the report by the Keeper of the Registers and Records of Scotland made after a preliminary survey of certain unarranged records in the basement of the Register House, to which I understand that the questions relate. It is evident that some of these records may be of considerable value and that their condition requires that an early start should be made with the task of renovating and classifying them. This work can only be undertaken gradually, and if it is to be satisfactorily done will require expert attention fro a number of years to come. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that some provision will have to be made for this purpose in the immediate future, and he is now in consultation with the Treasury as to details.
§ Mr. GUYIs my hon. Friend aware that, as regards many of these records, there is no proper system of indexing, and that in consequence they are for all practical purposes inaccessible?
§ Mr. SKELTONThat is one of the matters which comes under the phrase, "the task of classifying."