HC Deb 08 December 1980 vol 995 cc240-1W
Mr. Christopher Price

asked the Paymaster General if he will list in the Official Report those documents which he has released under section 5(1) of the Public Records Act within the 30-year time limit.

Mr. Maude

My Department has not released to the Public Record Office any documents within the 30-year time limit.

Mr. Christopher Price

asked the Attorney General if he will list in the Official Report those documents which he and the Lord Chancellor have released under section 5(1) of the Public Records Act within the 30-year time limit.

The Solicitor-General

The hon. Member will find listed in replies to other questions asked by him documents which the Lord Chancellor has released within the 30-year period at the request of other Ministers since May 1979. I have made no such request. The Lord Chancellor has released the following documents which fall within his own departmental responsibility:

Mr. St. John-Stevas

I have no power under section 5(1) of the Public Records Act to release documents within the 30-year period; and I have not requested the Lord Chancellor to release any documents within that period.

Mr. Christopher Price

asked the Prime Minister if she will list in the Official Report those documents which she has released under section 5(1) of the Public Records Act within the 30-year time limit.

The Prime Minister

Since the 1979 general election, the following Cabinet Office records have been released:

Title PRO Ref. No.
World War 1—Military Histories
East Africa, Vol. II:
Miscellaneous Correspondence 1939–52 CAB 45/74
Occupation of the Rhineland:
Comments aid Correspondence 1943–57 CAB 45/82
Persia:
Correspondence and Enquiries about Publication CAB 45/100
Committee on the Preparation of Legislation
Minutes and Memoranda 1973–75 CAB 135/65–78