§ Lord Airedaleasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they appreciate that members of the public are anxious to know the answer to Lord Avebury's Question "whether the documents withdrawn from the Public Record Office concerning the issue of sovereignty over the Falkland Islands will he returned before the general election"; whether they are aware of the disappointment caused by their statement in reply (Hansard, col. 458) that documents are returned when they are no longer required: and whether they will now answer the question with greater particularity.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Belstead)I am not aware of public anxiety or disappointment about the answer I gave to the noble Lord, Lord Avebury's Question of 10th May. The small number of documents withdrawn from the Public Record Office for use within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are returned once they are no longer required.