§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many papers his Department has currently withdrawn from the Public Record Office; if he will list their titles; and when he estimates that they will be returned.
§ Sir John CopeGovernment Departments have a statutory right under the Public Records Acts to retrieve records temporarily from the Public Record Office for their own administrative use. Her Majesty's Treasury currently has 173 records out on loan. To list them all would involve disproportionate cost. Records are returned as soon as departmental action has been completed.