§ Harry CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether all Government papers in relation to the killing of UK individuals by Zionist terrorists in the 1940s and 1950s are now in the public domain; and if he will make a statement. [179794]
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§ Mr. StrawGovernment papers on the killing of UK individuals by Zionist terrorists in the 1940s and 1950s will be dispersed am, mg the files originating in a number of Government Departments now in The National Archives (TNA). The TNA catalogue will show any that have been withheld.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not have a central list of its withheld records. In the time available my Department has not identified any withheld papers dealing with this subject. A search is continuing to confirm the position and I will write to my hon. Friend when this is done.
The FCO is re-reviewing all of its withheld records on a systematic basis. Over 20,000 previously withheld records have been released since 1992. We also re-review on request any specific items identified by researchers working in TNA. In the last year we have re-reviewed and released a block of material including some on Zionist organisations in response to such a request; these are now available at TNA in class CO 733. Quarterly lists of FCO previously withheld releases are published on the FCO website (www.fco.gov.uk).