HC Deb 04 April 1990 vol 170 cc710-1W
Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many volumes of the series on British foreign policy 1945–55, "Documents on British Policy Overseas," have been produced; how many copies have been distributed to(a) United Kingdom embassies or diplomatic missions abroad and (b) United Kingdom universities and research institutes; how many departmental staff or consultants to his Department are employed on preparation and production of the series; and what has been the cost to date in current prices of the series.

Mr. Sainsbury

The series "Documents on British Policy Overseas," announced in the House of Commons by Sir Alec Douglas-Home on 2 July 1973, is a collection of the most important documents in the archives of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office relating to British policy overseas, and is regarded as an indispensable source for British foreign policy in the period from 1945 to 1955.

The following eight volumes have been published so far: Series I (1945–50) Volume I The Conference at Potsdam, July-August 1945 (HMSO, 1984) £85. Volume II Conferences and Conversations 1945: London, Washington and Moscow (HMSO, 1985) £75. Volume III Britain and America: Negotiation of the United States Loan, August-December 1945 (HMSO, 1987) £35. Volume IV Britain and America: Atomic Energy, Bases and Food, December 1945-July 1946 (HMSO, 1987) £35. Volume V Germany and Western Europe, 11 August-31 December 1945 (HMSO, 1990) £55. Series II (1950–55) Volume I The Schuman Plan, the Council of Europe and Western European Integration 1950–1952 (HMSO, 1986) £70. Volume II The London Conferences, 1950 (HMSO, 1987) £35. Volume III German Rearmament, 1950 (HMSO, 1989) £39.

British embassies and diplomatic missions abroad do not receive copies of DBPO, but information material is sent to overseas posts and copies of the volumes are available on loan from the FCO library. In cases where a volume is of particular current relevance to an embassy a copy may be supplied for retention.

United Kingdom universities and research institutes purchase their copies of DBPO.

DBPO is produced by a small team of independent historians working in the historical branch of the library and records department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The editorial staff, who also provide historical advice within the FCO, comprise two editors, two assistant editors and three research assistants. No consultants are employed.

The costs of the printing and publication of DBPO are borne by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, and are recovered by it as revenue from sales.