HC Deb 14 February 1957 vol 564 cc1418-9
9 and 10. Mr. Hyde

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when he intends to introduce legislation transferring responsibility for the Public Record Office to the Lord Chancellor, and giving legislative effect to other recommendations of the Committee on Departmental Records, where this is necessary;

(2) when he proposes to appoint, as official head of the Public Record Department, a Keeper of the Records, in accordance with the recommendation contained in paragraph 142 of the Report of the Committee on Departmental Records.

Mr. Powell

Legislation is in preparation to permit the transfer of responsibility for the, Public Record Office to the Lord Chancellor and the appointment of an official head of the Public Record Office, with the title of Keeper of the Records. I cannot yet say when it will be possible for it to be introduced.

Mr. Hyde

Is my hon. Friend aware that it is getting on for three years now since the Departmental Committee issued its Report, and that it is more than twenty months since we were told that legislation was to be introduced? Cannot he give us an assurance that it will be brought forward this Session? What consideration has been given to the aspect which interests the public most, namely, the period after which records are to be transferred to the Public Record Office and become available for inspection by historians and students? What consideration has been given to the advertisement of this important post of Keeper of the Records? Is it to be filled from inside the Civil Service, or is it to be thrown open, like other public appointments', to suitably qualified candidates?

Mr. Powell

Perhaps my hon. Friend would give me notice of those last three detailed questions. As to his first two supplementary questions, it is desired to introduce this legislation as soon as practicable, but I cannot give any guarantee of its being introduced in the present Session.