§ 73. Colonel Wedgwoodasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why the Public Record Office has been closed to research and when it will be reopened?
§ The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Captain Crookshank)The most valuable of the records in the Public Record Office are in process of being removed from the building for safe keeping, and special steps are being taken to rearrange and protect the residue. The existing staff are at present fully occupied with the work of removal and protection. In these circumstances a large proportion of the records must remain for the time being unavailable for public inspection, and I am afraid that it is not at present possible to say when the Search Department will be reopened.
§ Colonel WedgwoodIs the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that only a very few of the most valuable documents have been removed, and is it not possible that he can give some idea to students when the Record Office will again be opened?
§ Captain CrookshankI am afraid I could not give a date.