§ 31. Mr. MATHERSasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is in a position to state when steps will be taken to ensure the preservation and proper custody of Scottish sheriff court and other records of historical value?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Mr. Elliot)Consultations are taking place with the various authorities and departments concerned in regard to proposals for the transfer of certain public records, including sheriff court records, to the General Register House, Edinburgh, for custody. I am not yet in a position to make any further statement.
§ Mr. MATHERSHas the right hon. Gentleman seen the report of the speech made by the Lord Lyon King of Arms complaining of the shocking state of these records, and is he seized with the importance of dealing with the matter quickly and effectively?
§ Mr. ELLIOTYes, I hope I shall be able to make a further announcement before Christmas.
§ Mr. ELLIOTThe records in all the departments.
§ 32. Sir SAMUEL CHAPMANasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the deplorable state of the ancient records in the vaults of the Register House, Edinburgh; whether any reports on this matter were received by his predecessors; if so, the date of these reports; and what action does he intend to take?
§ Mr. ELLIOTI am aware that the state of some of the records in the basement of the Register House is unsatisfactory. Following on a report made to the Secretary of State in September, 1932, the Record Office staff was increased by three; and a further report in April, 1936, showed that the arrangement and classification of the Customs 681 records in the basement had then been completed, and that work was beginning on the Excise records. The basement records are safe from further deterioration and progress has been, and is being, made in the task of arrangement and classification. The whole question of Scottish records is at present under consideration, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.
§ Sir S. CHAPMANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware personally of the deplorable state of these records, which are covered with dust and have been in that condition for the last 100 or 150 years, and will he not take the earliest possible opportunity of seeing them for himself and getting the conditions rectified'?
§ Mr. STEPHENWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the addition of an office boy to the officials who have already been appointed?
§ Mr. ELLIOTI will consider that.
§ 36. Mr. T. JOHNSTONasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that valuable Scottish historical records are still being allowed to perish through neglect; that in one town the old shrieval records are now a roosting place for pigeons; that in Shetland old official records of local importance have been thrown into the sea; whether he proposes to carry out the recommendations of the committee on the custody and preservation of sheriff records, which reported in 1926, and, if so, when; and whether he proposes to so increase the staff of the Register House that they will be able to index the records of the High Court of Justiciary and other valuable manuscripts, and render them available to Scottish historical students?
§ Mr. ELLIOTI am aware that better provision is desirable for the preservation of certain Scottish historical records. As regards the second part of the question, which I understand relates to Kirkcudbright, I am informed that while the accommodation was formerly unsatisfactory this was remedied in 1929 on the appointment of the present Sheriff Clerk, whose services, and those of expert assistants, have been of the utmost value. The expert assistants were made available through the good offices of my Noble Friend the Marquess 682 of Bute, who has also provided special steel covered books to preserve the old deeds. I am unable to trace what records are referred to in the third part of the question, but perhaps the right hon. Member would give me any information he has. As regards the fourth part of the question as the right hon. Member will see from the answer to a previous question, I am at present looking into the whole question of Scottish records. As regards the last part, the records of the High Court of Justiciary are arranged and available for public inspection, but are not yet indexed. The staff requirements for this and other work will be kept under review.
Mr. McKIEIn view of the admitted misstatements with regard to the preservation of the records in the Sheriff Court House at Kirkcudbright. which were made by Lord Lyon King of Arms at the annual meeting of the Scottish Historical Society, can my right hon. Friend say whether Lord Lyon King of Arms is entitled to criticise other officials of the State in this rather unguarded fashion?
§ Mr. ELLIOTI should be very unwilling to enter into a dispute with Lord Lyon King of Arms.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that Lord Lyon King of Arms did not say it was Kirkcudbright at all?
§ 39. Mr. GUYasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the memorandum on Scottish records submitted by the Convention of Royal Burghs; and what action he proposes to take?
§ Mr. ELLIOTI am considering the memorandum referred to; and I hope to be able to arrange a meeting with or deputation from the convention at an early date.