§ THE EARL OF HALSBURYThe sole object of this Amendment is the preservation of documents of great antiquity which cannot be produced without risk of injury because they are so fragile.
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Moved, That Standing Order No. LXXXVII be amended by leaving out the following words, viz.—
1. "In the case of documents in public custody within the United Kingdom, officially certified copies thereof (or officially certified extracts or excerpts of such documents, if deemed sufficient by the Committee for Privileges) shall be delivered in by a witness, who will be required to swear that he has examined them with the originals, and that the copies are correct. (With regard to the documents in public custody in England, the originals, as heretofore, must be produced at the Bar by an officer of the department having custody of the same).
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And by inserting the following words in lieu thereof, viz.—
1. "No original of any record or public document in the custody of the Master of the Rolls shall be required to be produced before the Committee of Privileges or any other Committee of this House without a written order for such production, signed by the Lord Chancellor or the Chairman of such Committee. Such records and documents shall be proved by certified copies as provided by the Public Record Act, 1838, 1st and 2nd Vict., chap. 94."—(The Lord Chancellor)
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§ The said Standing Order amended accordingly; and to be printed as amended. (No. 26.)
§ House adjourned at ten minutes before Seven o'clock, till Tomorrow, half-past Ten o'clock.