§ Mr. Whitakerasked the Prime Minister whether he will propose to the new all-party committee on official histories, that it commission an official history of the episode of the Zinoviev Letter.
§ The Prime MinisterNo. When the Public Records Bill comes into operation next year it will be open to historians to study the Zinoviev episode from the official papers which will be opened to public inspection. The purpose of the new official histories is to provide studies of selected episodes which fall within the 30 year closed period.
§ Mr. Whitakerasked the Prime Minister whether he will propose to the new all-party committee on official histories, that it commission an official history of British foreign policy in the Middle East in 1956.
§ The Prime MinisterNo. The Group of Privy Counsellors have been appointed to give all-party consideration to proposals for official histories but do not themselves commission them; and, for the reasons given in my reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Dickens) on 8th June, the Government do not think that it would be wise to commission such a history at the present time.—[Vol. 747, c. 1289.]