HC Deb 23 February 1998 vol 307 c49W
Mr. Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 17 December 1997,Official Report, column 176, on what date the notebook containing the manuscript "In Excelsis" by Lord Alfred Douglas was released to the Public Record Office at Kew. [30785]

Mr. Michael

The Home Office file of which the notebook forms a part was opened on 27 November 1997. Although the file had previously been held at the Public Record Office, it was not open for public inspection before that date.

Mr. Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons and on what authority the notebook containing the manuscript "In Excelsis" was released for public inspection before the expiration of the 100 year limit. [30786]

Mr. Michael

The notebook containing the manuscript of the poem "In Excelsis" forms part of a Home Office file, H0144/21591. The decision to open the file, which had previously been marked for closure until 2043, was taken in the interests of open government, following a request from a member of the public. The authority for the opening of the file is contained in a Lord Chancellor's Instrument made under section 5(1) of the Public Records Act 1958.