§ 36. Mr. K. Robinsonasked the Attorney-General if he is aware of the inconvenience caused to historians and other users of the Public Record Office by shortage of staff, inadequate search rooms and facilities, restrictions on the use and delays in the production of manuscripts, failure to produce properly edited and indexed guides, lists and calendars, and the closing hour of 5 p.m.; and if he will take steps to remedy some at least of these defects in the service provided.
§ The Solicitor-General (Sir Peter Rawlinson)All the matters mentioned 24 in the hon. Member's Question have been considered by the Advisory Council on Public Records, and I do not accept that the facilities at the Public Record Office are as unsatisfactory as he suggests. Efforts are constantly being made to improve the service to the public and my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor hopes that a start will be made next year on the provision of additional accommodation.
§ Mr. RobinsonIs the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that, in the opinion of almost everybody who uses the Office, the facilities offered to the public are wholly out of keeping with the importance of the records which are stored there? Is he also aware that there is a disturbing air of complacency in the administration of the Office at the top? If he cannot do all these things at once, will he at least discuss with the Chancellor of the Exchequer a long-term plan so that the improvements can be made over a period?
§ The Solicitor-GeneralThe estimated expenditure on this Office has increased by 23 per cent. in the two years between 1962–63 and 1964–65, and additional accommodation is being provided. I remind the hon. Member that there are some 50 miles of shelving, millions of documents and 5,000 searches each year. It is not only the staff who, as is sometimes suggested, are unreasonable. Everything is done to make facilities as good as possible, and provision is to be made for extra seats in the search room and also for seats for the readers.
§ Mr. FletcherWill the Solicitor-General agree that, within the limited facilities which are available at the Public Record Office, everything possible is being done by the present staff and that the root of the difficulty is the inadequacy of the accommodation? Will he give an assurance that, in conjunction with his right hon. Friend the Minister of Public Building and Works, the necessary additional accommodation will definitely be made available to the Public Record Office without delay?
§ The Solicitor-GeneralI will certainly bring to the attention of my right hon. Friend the point made by the hon. Member. The proposal is to press ahead with the work. As the hon. Member knows, the staff works from 8.20 in the morning 25 until 5.15 in the afternoon on a very difficult task. Indeed, everything possible is done for those who use this service.
§ Mr. Emrys HughesIn view of the congestion in the Office, will the Minister consider sending back to Ireland the documents relating to Irish people? Is he aware that in the Library there is a large number of documents which the Irish allege to be forgeries—for example, those connected with the name of Roger Casement? Will not the right hon. and learned Gentleman send these back to Ireland so as to ease the problem for the English?
§ The Solicitor-GeneralI will certainly bear in mind what the hon. Member has said, and sitting beside me is my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary.