§ 50. Dr. Howitt(for Sir John Graham Kerr) asked the Secretary to the Treasury in view of the fact that matters of historical interest and importance are frequently recorded in the unpublished records of the proceedings of Royal Commissions, what facilities exist for enabling members of the public to consult the full stenographic records of such proceedings in so far as they relate to sittings held in public by commissions which, having completed their labours, are no longer available to consider the desirability of publishing any part of their proceedings?
§ The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Captain Crookshank)The arrangements for the preservation of unpublished reports of proceedings of Royal Commissions held in public vary in accordance with the 32 nature of the matters which they have had to consider, the period which has elapsed since they reported, and the views of each Commission on the disposal of its papers. I should not expect to find that Royal Commissions refrained from publishing reports of public proceedings at which matters of historical interest and importance had come before them. If there is any particular Royal Commission of which my hon. Friend wishes to consult the unpublished records, I will inquire whether they can be made available to him.