HL Deb 09 December 1985 vol 469 c95WA
Lord Brockway

asked Her Majesty's Government:

On what grounds they are retaining the following documents longer than the 30 years stipulated in the Public Records Act (1958):

  1. (i) COS(53) 310, 1/7/53
  2. (ii) COS(53) 324, 7/7/53
  3. (iii) COS(53) 222, 13/5/53
  4. (iv) COS(53) 232, 18/5/53
given that the United Kingdom is a signatory to the Biological Weapons Convention and is committed to not using biological weapons.

The Minister of State for Defence Support (Lord Trefgarne)

The Public Records Acts provide for extended closure of certain records with the approval of the Lord Chancellor. The records referred to are closed to public inspection under this provision.