Advisory Council on Public Records

HC Deb 25 January 1982 vol 16 cc244-5W

Mr. John Grant

asked the Attorney-General if he will now replace the Master of Rolls as chairman of the Advisory Council on Public Records.

The Solicitor-General

No.

Mr. John Grant

asked the Attorney-General if he will take steps to make the Advisory Council on Public Records more representative of the users.

The Solicitor-General

An announcement on this will be made as part of the Government's response to the Wilson committee report.

Mr. John Grant

asked the Attorney-General if advice was received by the Government from the Advisory Council on Public Records concerning the recent decision not to release documents relating to the Burgess-Maclean espionage case; and whether the council received detailed information about the documents concerned.

The Solicitor-General

No. The papers are retained in the relevant Department under the authority of the general decision of Lord Chancellor Gardiner in 1967.