HC Deb 10 November 1992 vol 213 c675W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many papers his Department has currently withdrawn from the Public Record Office; if he will list their titles; and when he estimates that they will be returned.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the ODA have 513 records on loan. To list them all would involve disproportionate cost. Government Departments have a statutory right under the Public Records Acts to recall records temporarily from the Public Record Office for administrative use. Records are returned as soon as departmental action has been completed.