Lord Chelwoodasked Her Majesty's Government:
What reply they sent to the letter of 8th December from the Historical Association about the need to ensure that a unified and full range of archive services is maintained at county and Greater London level after the Local Government Bill becomes law, by what other bodies a similar plea has been made since the White Paper Streamlining the Cities was published, and whether they will now amend the Bill accordingly.
§ The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Lord Elton)We have numerous representations from persons and bodies concerned about the future of archive services in Greater London and the metropolitan counties. I would refer the noble Lord to my reply of 27th February to the noble Lord, Lord Teviot, in which I said that arrangements had been made for the City Corporation to take over and run the Greater London Record Office on behalf of Londoners as a whole, subject to parliamentary approval for the Local Government Bill. In the metropolitan counties we look to the councils of the districts to make arrangements, through voluntary co-operation, for these much valued services. They will have the necessary powers. We are, however, ready to listen to the views of those with a particular interest and expertise in these matters and I am arranging for officials to meet the Historical Association to discuss their concern.