HOUSE of LORDS RECORD OFFICE Archives The Parliamentary The Parliamentary

Annual Review 2001 – 2002 The Parliamentary

(The Parliamentary Archives) Parliamentary (The Archives PHOTOGRAPH repository ducts inthe Victoria Tower airconditioning Detail ofthenew Cover illustration holds therecords ofboth information aboutuson information : OS FLRSRCR OFFICE RECORD LORDS OF HOUSE which datefrom 1497. Parliamentary website Parliamentary Houses ofParliament The House of Lords HouseofLords The www.parliament.uk You findmore can : u pagesatthe our Record Office By fax: By telephone: By writing: By e-mail: searchroom contact us: or toarrange touseour To makeanenquiry 020 72192570 020 72193074 RecordOffice House ofLords [email protected] SW1A OPW London London ANNUAL REVIEW 1999–2000 Published by TSO (The Stationery Office) and available from:

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HOUSE of LORDS RECORD OFFICE Archives

Annual The Parliamentary Review 2001 – 2002

London: The Stationery Office 2 ANNUAL REVIEW 2001–2002

Review of the year Archives The Parliamentary The Parliamentary

This review of the work of the House of Lords Record Office (The Parliamentary Archives) covers the year that ended on 31st March 2002. The activities of the Parliamentary Archives support the key objectives of the House of Lords’ administration and the permanent core tasks of the House of Commons’ administration, which correspond to:

• providing the public with information with an appointment to the new post of and access Freedom of Information Officer.The post holder has oversight of House of Lords’ • maintaining the heritage of buildings, arrangements for Freedom of Information objects and documents and Data Protection and also for the records The core work continues to be collection management service provided to both management and serving the needs of our Houses. different user communities.Two main Further steady progress has been made in threads run through the year’s activities implementing the Parliamentary records reported here. Firstly, key initiatives that management strategy, which will assist were scoped, planned and for which funding compliance with the Lord Chancellor’s was secured in the last few years are Code of Practice on the management of delivering discernible benefits, which will records under Section 46 of the Freedom of enhance our services to all users. Secondly, Information Act. Key activities were the the extent to which working together inside agreement of the corporate file classification and outside the Palace of Westminster has scheme and commencement of its rollout been an important factor in delivering our to offices and departments of both Houses; objectives. participation in a project board assessing the electronic records management Records Management,Freedom of requirements of a document management Information and Data Protection system; and discussions with the Commons’ Management of these complementary administration about its records information management functions was management requirements. brought together in the House of Lords ANNUAL REVIEW 2001–2002 3

Preservation and conservation Staff A building project, which will bring major The achievements of the past year owe improvements to the environmental and much to the dedication and enthusiasm of physical protection of the archives in the our staff whether they are new staff bringing Victoria Tower repository, got underway in the benefit of fresh professional insight July for completion in 2004-05. Measures or long-serving staff with willingness to are in place to limit the inevitable disruption question, to innovate and to embrace to public services in the course of the change. upgrade. With specialist assistance from the British Priorities for 2002-03 Library a collection condition survey of the • Further rollout of the file classification archives was launched so that conservation scheme for Parliamentary records and and preservation needs are understood and development of a disposal authority for addressed strategically. use with the scheme. • Continued preparations for Access implementing Freedom of Information A four-year programme for the retrospective and Data Protection legislation in the conversion of paper finding aids and legacy House of Lords. databases for inclusion in the CALM • Major improvement works will continue catalogue system was launched at the in the Victoria Tower repository. beginning of year and by its end the number of records in the catalogue was over 90,000. • Conversion to the online catalogue of the numerous finding aids of the records for Particularly noteworthy has been the House of Lords and House of Commons mounting on the National Archive Network will begin. under the auspices of Access to Archives at the PRO of the catalogue entries of the original acts of Parliament from 1497 to 1999, the Stephen Ellison Bonar Law and the Lloyd George Papers. Clerk of the Records 4ANNUAL REVIEW 2001–2002

Our role is to safeguard and to provide access to the memory of Parliament Archives Our aims are to achieve this by:

The Parliamentary The Parliamentary • Providing a records management and • Ensuring compliance of the House an archive service for each House of of Lords’ administration with Freedom Parliament and making the archives of Information and Data Protection accessible to the public legislation.

Our key objectives provide a strategic framework for the core functions of the Parliamentary Archives: Records Management Preservation • To develop and implement policies for a • To provide sufficient suitable repository best practice and corporate approach to storage to preserve the archives in the management of the current records accordance with recognised professional of each House of Parliament standards. • To develop and implement policies for • To assist preservation of the archives by compliance of the House of Lords’ their conservation and the provision of administration with the Freedom of surrogate copies. Information Act and the Data Protection Act, and to provide advice to staff about Access their particular application. • To provide an up-to-date catalogue of the archives. Acquisition • To provide a public service for the • To ensure that departmental records of inspection and copying of records, and each House of Parliament worthy of the answering of enquiries. permanent preservation are selected and archived • To promote awareness of the archives and history of Parliament. • To acquire other records that contribute significantly to the understanding of the history and workings of Parliament ANNUAL REVIEW 2001–2002 5

Records Management Archives The records management team has continued to make steady

The Parliamentary The Parliamentary progress in implementing the agreed strategy for Parliamentary records management.The importance of the strategy, which is recognised by the administrations of both Houses, is seen as:

• bringing business benefits in terms of function and activity taken from the better access to information by staff to classification scheme.This follows the aid decision-making and increase approach recommended in the new departmental effectiveness International Standard on Records Management, ISO 15489. Documentation • part of each House’s preparation for supporting the scheme, including a Freedom of Information and Data thesaurus, was finalised during the summer. Protection Pilots were carried out to establish a system • creating the right culture in which to for implementation, which then commenced manage electronic records in October. Weekly training courses are run for staff of both Houses and specific The main activities have been: assistance is given to offices converting to the scheme. Benefits seen already include: Classification scheme for parliamentary records • better control of information within offices, in particular the introduction At the beginning of the year of file lists (a requirement for Freedom the classification scheme of Information) was approved by all departments after several • improved awareness of the importance months’ consultation of record-keeping and negotiation. • tidy work areas in offices, and therefore The scheme is based more efficient working on Keyword AAA, a functional thesaurus and Guidance to staff classification The Record Officers Groups in each House scheme continue to provide a useful forum for the developed by dissemination of information and receipt the Government of of feedback.The first edition of the New South Wales. Parliamentary Records Management It is an essential Handbook, containing advice to staff about precursor for a how to manage the records that they create Parliamentary and use, was distributed in hard copy and disposal authority and for posted on the Parliamentary intranet. electronic records management. Guidance and supporting documentation for Offices and departments may choose to the Classification Scheme for Parliamentary retain current titling and numeration of files Records and a leaflet promoting good provided they apply keywords, reflecting records management practice were also 6 ANNUAL REVIEW 2001–2002

CLASSIFICATION SCHEME TRAINING Photograph: House of Lords Record Office

compliant. It will be developed further as work towards assessing and procuring electronic document and records management solutions progresses.The Record Office was also consulted on the records management implications of a proposed Parliamentary Information Management Service that arises from the need of the House of Commons produced and distributed to staff. As well as Library to replace its Parliamentary Online training courses for use of the classification Indexing Service known as POLIS. scheme, the Record Office now presents a half-hour course as part of staff induction programmes for each House.This is the first time that records management has been included in induction training for Parliamentary staff, an important step forward because it meets a requirement of the Code of Practice on the management of records under Section 46 of the Freedom of Information Act.

Electronic records The Record Office participated in a project board investigating the setting up of a pilot electronic records management system in Black Rod’s Office. Such projects are influential for potential large-scale procurement of a system for both Houses.The first version of Functional Requirements for Electronic Records Management Systems in the Houses of Parliament was produced to assist the project in Black Rod’s Office. The document, which is based upon similar work undertaken by the Public Record Office, sets standards and requirements with which all such products will need to be ANNUAL REVIEW 2001–2002 7

House of Commons project board on forward were agreed. Following the records management announcement in November 2001 of the Government's timetable for implementing The Record Office assisted a project board the Freedom of Information Act, established by the House of Commons preparation of the House of Lords’ Board of Management to assess the work publication scheme and raising awareness required to achieve a sustainable regime for training were given immediate priority. records management that is compliant with Freedom of Information, Data Protection The House of Lords’ publication scheme and other legal and business requirements. must be approved by the Information The project board will draft a statement of Commissioner and be made available to the services for the provision of the records public by 30th November 2002. A scheme management service to the Commons. to meet this timetable has been produced. Freedom of Information and Data Freedom of Information Protection awareness training sessions were and Data Protection run by The Constitution Unit, University College London, for Heads of Offices and The Freedom of Information and Data Freedom of Information Co-ordinators. Protection Acts are important drivers for effective management of records in all media.The new post of House of Lords Freedom of Information Officer is based in the Record Office. It carries responsibility for developing and implementing policies for House of Lords' compliance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Data Protection Act 1998, and strategic development of records management for both Houses.The House of Commons, a separate public authority under the Freedom of Information Act, has its own arrangements for Freedom of Information and Data Protection, but the respective officials liaise closely in the interests of a commonality of approach. The Lords’ Working Group on Freedom of Information and Data Protection was reconstituted under the chairmanship of the Freedom of Information Officer in the autumn. The Group comprises the key Freedom of Information Co-ordinators nominated to be responsible for these issues in their offices. Terms of reference for the Group and an action plan for taking key areas of work 8 ANNUAL REVIEW 2001–2002

Acquisition Archives There were 133 accessions during

The Parliamentary The Parliamentary the year, an increase on 2000-01. Improvements to accessioning procedures have continued to be improved. In particular procedures for the transfer of records from offices were revised and new transfer forms were introduced. Large deposits were made by Black Rod’s Office, the Staff Adviser and the Refreshment Department in the House of Lords, the Committee Offices of both Houses, the Department of the Serjeant at Arms, and the House of detailed reports relating to Commons Overseas the restoration of the roof of Office.The deposit Westminster Hall on which from the Serjeant’s Atkinson worked with Department was Sir Frank Baines between additional to that 1920 and 1928. In addition reported last year and there is a book signed by consisted of office files individuals who visited the Hall dating from the nineteenth whilst the works were in progress. century.These include further These included Sir Edwin Lutyens and material relating to suffragettes together George V. Another item relating to with records relating to lying in state the Palace is the letter from George Rennie ceremonies and Royal weddings. to Sir Robert Inglis of February 1852 Of particular note were three deposits from concerning ventilation of the Commons’ the House of Commons: 168 volumes of chamber. Of particular significance to the Private Bill Committee minutes, Vote Office office are the diaries 1947-83 of a former account books 1844-1970 and minutes of Clerk of the Records, Maurice Bond, the Library Committee 1840-56. and his wife Shelagh . The office continued to acquire non-official Further microfiches of Commons Sessional records at auction, from dealers or by gift Papers were purchased, improving their from private individuals. Amongst these ready access. were papers of James Atkinson, who was employed by the Office of Works at the turn A full list of accessions is provided in of the last century.These papers include Appendix 1. ANNUAL REVIEW 2001–2002 9

Preservation Archives London Metropolitan Archives has, since 2000, provided a very effective service

The Parliamentary The Parliamentary for the temporary out-storage of records and a van service for their return for consultation. Access by our staff to the strongrooms at LMA, which has been very helpful in maintaining progress with the cataloguing project, was much appreciated. Records remaining in the Victoria Tower will be subject to movement throughout the works, which has necessitated the creation of a basic inventory to record temporary locations of records and to track movements throughout the project. After some Staff deserve credit for maintaining most years in gestation and of our normal services in difficult considerable planning a contract circumstances. However, with major building work in progress in and around has been let for bringing electric the repository for the next few years it is wiring, fire precautions and air regretted that there will be times when usual standards of retrieval cannot be maintained conditioning of the repository and occasions when certain series will be up to archival standard. inaccessible for up to several months. Up to date information about restrictions on The contractors came on site in July 2001 access will be posted on the Parliamentary and the project team led by the Archives’ pages on the Parliamentary Parliamentary Works Services Directorate Website www.parliament.uk, or can be has targeted completion in 2004-05. obtained by contacting the office. Building work has been focused on site preparation including the physical and Conservation environmental protection of the archives remaining on the nine lower floors of the During the year a full condition survey of repository, and the installation of the main the archives was undertaken by the British air handling and conditioning plant. Library.The report will be produced during Installation of secondary plant and ducting 2002-03 and this will enable conservation and all works for the top three floors of the and preservation needs to be understood repository were also in progress. For its part and addressed strategically. It was, however, the Record Office has devoted considerable decided that work should commence attention to planning the evacuation and immediately on cleaning, wrapping and reinstallation of records as work proceeds re-labelling those nineteenth century from floor to floor and determining revised deposited plans that had not previously been layouts for shelving. covered by the on-going programme of plan conservation work.This basic treatment will 10 ANNUAL REVIEW 2001–2002

mean that these items are much Preservation microfilming more accessible to searchers and also easier to identify in the storage areas. The re-structuring of the Reprographics Unit reported last year was implemented Following the retirement of Michael Combe providing better coverage for supply of as Senior Conservator, Paul Slapp, the copies to the public and also management British Library's manager, assumed a more efficiencies. An important part of the Unit’s direct role in managing the conservation work continued to be the microfilming of staff and in liaising with the Record Office. records in case of disaster and also for the The benefits of a closer working relationship provision of surrogates to use in the search with the British Library are already being room. Scoping for the development of a felt. long-term strategy for this filming began As in previous years binding and and it is also hoped to produce a policy for conservation work has been carried out the use of surrogates during 2002-03. Some for the Lords’ Library and other offices. progress has been made in digitising items in The profile of the unit received a boost in the office's collection of images, with a view September when it was asked to mount a to using them on the website and also display in the Cholmondeley Room to mark attaching them to the relevant entries in the the 25th anniversary of The Institute of new catalogue.They will be a valuable source Paper Conservation. for meeting the increasing demand for digital images both from the public and from A working group led by the Record Office television and film companies. and including representatives from the office of the Curator of Works of Art, the Education Unit and the Works Services Directorate has been convened to review the provision of displays of records within the Palace.The Group is expected to report in the early summer of 2002 with a view to implementing proposals in 2003-04. ANNUAL REVIEW 2001–2002 11

Access Archives Last year CALM 2000+ was selected for the catalogue and archive management

The Parliamentary The Parliamentary system.The next phase commenced in April 2001 with the arrival of four project archivists to undertake the task of retrospective conversion of the existing finding aids, and coding and labelling of records, frequently by reference to the original records. The task of editing and indexing of the data in the cataloguing system to international standards of archival description has been assisted by two temporary agency typists who convert the The existing paper lists into electronic text for the automation project, a significant archivists to edit into the online catalogue. The typists have completed typing the lists undertaking that is designed to of Private Bill plans and evidence and improve services for the benefit of Appeal Cases, and have now begun the immense task of the public and the administration tabulating the House of Lords Main Papers. of both Houses, has completed its The number of records in the catalogue by second year within time and the end of the year was 91,200. Significant budget. It aims to deliver the progress has been made on five fronts: following benefits in 2005: Original acts catalogue conversion • a comprehensive online catalogue of A notable accomplishment has been the archival holdings, available in the public large and complex conversion of paper search room and over the web catalogues to all original Acts from 1497 conforming to international standards on to 1999 into electronic catalogue entries. archival description, and enabling The data inputting itself was outsourced participation in the National Archives to the Access to Archives infrastructure at Network the PRO, but the complexity of the paper • automated document ordering catalogues was such that it took the four project archivists two months’ work to • automated management information on prepare them for conversion.The data were usage and users of the Archives mounted on the national archive network • replacement of existing systems which hosted by the PRO in December. Quality track enquiries and financial transactions reviewing of the lists will be undertaken in the Record Office when data are returned • automation of other search room services for inclusion in the online catalogue. 12 ANNUAL REVIEW 2001–2002

This will result in the addition of at least room.The automation project has provided 75,000 entries to the catalogue.This has the opportunity to appraise these holdings. been a major step forward in providing The vast majority are readily accessible access to historic UK legislation for the in Record Offices and Library Special general public - particularly local and family Collections throughout the country - most historians. Once the data are available in the of them in London - and in many such Search Room, searchers will be able, for the cases it was decided to dispose of the copies. first time, to order documents with the They were often poor-quality copies made correct reference number without having to in the 1960s, which we were unable to use multiple finding aids to identify reproduce for the public because of copyright particular Acts of Parliament.There has restrictions. Where the collections remain in been a steady stream of enquirers using the private hands, or are otherwise inaccessible data found on the national archive network. (for example, abroad), the decision has been One satisfied user of the Access to Archives made to keep them. In all 53 collections have website wrote: “On your advice I trudged been disposed of, freeing up valuable space in down Swaledale to find my nearest Internet the repository and allowing us to concentrate point. After my experiences with other cataloguing resources where they are needed HM Government (Agency) sites I typed the site most. Five collections of original records address with trepidation only to be surprised of no parliamentary interest at all have been by the following: - (1) Ease of Access. (2) Speed transferred to other English archives whose of Response to the search queries. (3) Detail holdings better reflect their content. within the abstracts. If only other archives Some 352 collections have been followed your example!” re-catalogued to international standards, given new reference numbers, and where Historical Collections appropriate re-boxed in acid-free materials Another main focus of work has been and indexed by personal name, place or the 432 “Historical Collections”.These subject.The re-cataloguing work has already are the unofficial records held by the Office, paid dividends in terms of the speed and including personal papers of MPs, Peers ease with which staff can use the catalogue and Parliamentary Clerks.They include to search and retrieve single items from collections of records which originated in collections (in the case of the Lloyd George Parliament, but which subsequently strayed papers, some 19,000 entries). from official custody and have been bought by the Office at auction or acquired by Migration of legacy data donation. Most of the catalogues to these Electronic data in the Record Office’s collections were either incomplete or existing catalogue databases have also had sub-standard at the beginning of the year to undergo conversion for the new system. and their deficiencies have now been So far the Accessions’ database and the remedied. databases of Commons’ and Lords’ In the past documents of particular Committee papers have been converted parliamentary interest held in other and uploaded. Conversion of legacy data institutions were copied by the Record should be completed next year. Office and made available in the search ANNUAL REVIEW 2001–2002 13

Committee papers project significant “historical collections”) at minimal cost without having to manage the In June 2001 we were very pleased to host keying contract for the conversion. Record a unique project placement for eight Office finding aids to these papers and the postgraduate students from the MA in original Acts of Parliament are accessible Archives and Records Management Course on the Access to Archives website at (UK and International) at University www.a2a.pro.gov.uk College London.The students, who had received project management training through their university, re-catalogued a Search Room Services large accumulation of the records of the Facilities for searchers House of Commons Estimates Committee Minor improvements to the Search from 1946-1970 including administrative Room include the acquisition of modern records of the committee and files on information holders to display leaflets and particular inquiries.They created 826 file guides, and new seats for readers.The Search descriptions for the catalogue, assigned new Room Guidelines have been revised and a file references, and researched and wrote further Readers’ Guide, Sources for Family administrative histories for the committee Historians, has been added. Handouts are itself and its 15 sub-committees. Ninety better presented and bear the Parliamentary series-level descriptions and 225 sub-series Archives logo. As part of our on-going level descriptions were also created.They commitment to improving service standards also re-boxed and re-filed all 826 files in all staff participated in a one-day customer archive boxes and acid-free file covers. care training course organised by Finally they produced a written report and The Industrial Society. gave a presentation of their conclusions and recommendations, which have assisted Searchers forward planning for re-cataloguing all the Commons' committee papers. The number of visitors to the Search Room has fallen from 1020 to 831 probably due, Participation in the National Archive Network at least in part, to the events of 11 September 2001. Apart from the usual fortnight’s Last year it was reported that the Heritage closure for stocktaking in November, the Lottery Fund had agreed a grant for an Search Room was closed occasionally for Access to Archives (A2A) project led by staff training and access was restricted the Parliamentary Archives to enable ten during the University College London participating archives to contribute the students’ work placement as described catalogues of prime ministers and other key elsewhere in this review. A total of 5,000 political figures to the National Archive items – volumes, boxes, files, original Acts, Network.The Political Archives plans, microfilm and other items - were Consortium, as it was named, achieved its produced for searchers which represent an target of contributing 11,000 pages of average of 6 orderable units per visit.There catalogues to the network (hosted by the were 39 requests from parliamentary offices PRO) in January 2002. for loans of documents and 156 requests for The benefits for the Office were the records to be brought from the London conversion of catalogues to the Lloyd George Metropolitan Archives where some records and Bonar Law collections (two of the most are currently stored during building work. 14ANNUAL REVIEW 2001–2002

There were 382 new applicants of which century, the Chinese in Britain and the 28% (21%) were for official, legal and nineteenth century theatre. Subjects for business purposes, 3% (3%) were from the a large number of biographical studies media and over 8% (7%) were genealogists. included Elizabeth Bunyan, the poet (Last year’s figures are shown in brackets.) Edmund Waller, the cartoonist James The rest pursued a variety of historical, Gillray, Camden Town artist Walter Sickert, biographical, literary and cultural studies. Sylvia Pankhurst, Frances Stevenson A smaller proportion than last year – 6% (later Countess Lloyd George) (11%) – declared an interest in parliamentary and Lord (‘Bomber’) history,which included studies of Parliament Harris. in the Civil War, the House of Lords 1660-1715, parliamentary franchise in the nineteenth century and dress codes in the House of Commons. 12% (13%) were interested in local and transport studies, such as the history of the Frome woollen cloth industry, Cranbrook turnpikes (Kent), the historic route of Crawley Lane in Balcombe, the development of the Strand in London, the Sheffield saw industry, Ironbridge and the North West Railway and the Mods and Rockers disturbances of 1969 in Hastings. The largest group – 43% (41%) – pursued twentieth century topics or contemporary issues. Apart from the ever popular Irish studies these included votes for women, the death sentence during World War One, RUTH PALEY Lloyd George and the trial of the Kaiser, PHOTOGRAPH:HOUSE OF LORDS RECORD OFFICE the British Mandate years in Palestine, the Quit India Campaign, Brendan Bracken Two of our searchers and Lord Beaverbrook, the UNESCO Ruth Paley from the History of Parliament Convention 1970, British policy on carers, Trust visits the Record Office in connection human embryology and fertilisation, the with research for the House of Lords section De Lorean affair and General Pinochet. of the History of Parliament. Ruth has A broad range of topics from earlier periods found the committee records of the 1660s included Philip II and the Netherlands, child particularly fascinating as they give much custody and guardianship law in England detail about what peers were doing and around 1603, pamphleteering in the 1640s, how and why they took particular actions. the history of millboards and pasteboards, Her favourite ‘find’ in the Main Papers is eighteenth century lotteries, Irish/French a petition to the Crown concerning the relations in the late eighteenth century, ‘great disparagement and injury of the women in slave revolts, nursing during the English nobility’ which is linked to earlier Crimean War, divorce law in the nineteenth discussions in the Committee of Privileges ANNUAL REVIEW 2001–2002 15

MRS PAMELA THOMPSON PHOTOGRAPH:HOUSE OF LORDS RECORD OFFICE about the problems of precedence caused by the presence in England of ‘foreign’ nobility (‘foreign’ meaning Irish and Scottish peers!). A long term regular visitor is Mrs Pamela Thompson, from the Parliamentary Agents Bircham Dyson Bell. Pam visits the Record Office regularly not only in connection with current parliamentary business but also to research old local legislation in connection with transport infrastructure projects. She Use of records also undertakes ‘Pepper & Hart’ searches for Media use various statutory utility matters. Pam is seen BBC filmed in the Act room of the here consulting some deposited plans from repository for a Newsnight report on the 1882. modernisation of Parliament. National Survey of Visitors to British Archives BBC Scotland filmed the Act of Union 1706 and the Scotland Act 1998 for a report on The results of this survey conducted by the the Boundary Commission. Public Services Quality Group in February 2001 were impressive. Excellent ratings Channel 4 filmed the death warrant of for the Record Office were consistently Charles I in connection with a family history among the best in the country. 89% (85%) programme. of respondents said our advice services were Channel 4 filmed the Earl Russell, the excellent. A massive 96% (81%) rated our Clerk of the Parliaments and the Clerk document delivery as excellent, 85% (67%) of the Records for a programme about the said our copying service was excellent and House of Lords. 89% thought our customer care was excellent.The figures in brackets are the Engstfeld Film Production filmed a 1714 Record Office figures from the National Act of Parliament concerning the provision Visitors’ Survey of 1999. of a public reward for the discovery of the longitude at sea. ‘Remote’ enquiries Lion TV filmed some journals of the House During a year in which we registered our of Commons in the Commons Library for a 50,000th enquiry since records began staff film about castles in the Civil War which answered a total of 2,326 (2,104) remote featured Gordon Marsden MP. enquiries.The enquiries comprised The Charity Commission for England and 746 (624) requests by e-mail, 57 (77) by fax, Wales photographed the original Charitable 748 (731) by letter and 775 (624) by Uses Act 1601 in connection with the 400th telephone. Statistics from the Parliamentary anniversary of its enactment. Communications Directorate show that staff on public lines handled 1,089 ‘quick’ Copies of documents were supplied to film telephone calls, which are not logged onto companies in connection with films about the Record Office enquiry database. Cromwell and Fairfax and Churchill’s years out of office. 16 ANNUAL REVIEW 2001–2002

Books and offprints received mailshot to schools in 2001) and we have continued to develop links with the History ‘Mysteries & solutions in Irish legal history’ of Parliament Trust. - R R Cherry, Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, 1914-1916 by Daire Hogan (Four Courts). Exhibitions and displays Protestation Returns 1641 for Wakefield New Opportunities Fund (including Alverthorpe, Stanley and Thornes), transcribed by Sandra Hargreaves The Public Record Office was successful in (Wakefield & District Family History its bid to the New Opportunities Fund for Society). funding for the creation of an online exhibition concerning the historical Ann Moyal, Breakfast with Beaverbrook: development of citizenship.The Record Memoirs of an independent woman Office is a supporting partner in this project (Hale & Iremonger, Sydney, 1995). and will be contributing staff time in terms Biographical Dictionary of Civil Engineers of selecting and producing images of of Great Britain and Ireland 1500-1830 documents and also in writing text.The (ed. Sir Alex Skempton) London, 2002. exhibition is due to be launched in early 2003. Promoting the archives and history of Parliament The office has continued to implement the recommendations of the report on outreach produced in 2000, subject to the limitations on resources and office priorities. Efforts have been made to promote particular aspects of the collections; an article about our sources for genealogists featured in the Family Tree Magazine ( July 2001) and an image and information about the Office has been contributed to photolondon, the portal Mobile Displays designed to showcase photographic collections in the London area. For the first time the office had a stand at the Society of Genealogists’ London Family As part of our wish to provide access to History Fair in May.This generated an everyone the Office has joined the Social encouraging response.The portable display Exclusion Action Planning Network. unit was also set up in the Upper Waiting In recognition of the benefits of collaboration Hall after the General Election and in the we have opened up dialogues with other Royal Gallery during the summer line of parliamentary departments; these include route. the Education Unit (we contributed to a ANNUAL REVIEW 2001–2002 17

Talks Staff gave talks to the following groups of postgraduate archivists and historians, and societies: American Women of Surrey Bexley Adult Education College Bicentenary of the Act British Association of Union between for Local History Great Britain and Cambridge Ireland 1801 University The Bicentenary Heraldic & of the Act of Genealogical Union exhibition Society mounted by the Friends of the V&A Public Record Office of Northern Institute of Historical Ireland (PRONI) at the Research Ulster Museum in Belfast Institute of Paper between June and December Conservation 2001 featured as its centrepiece the original Act of Union. In addition to London Appreciation Society the Act two House of Lords Journals and Liverpool University Centre for Archive a volume of manuscript minutes were loaned Studies to the exhibition, which provided a good example of cross-domain working. Thorney Island Society In October a travelling version of the University College London (School of exhibition together with the records loaned Library, Archives and Information Studies) by the Record Office was staged in the Royal Gallery.The opening of the latter University of Hull (MA Students) coincided with a lecture given by the University of Wales, Aberystwyth Rt. Hon. David Trimble MP,MLA on (Archives and Records Management) the subject of Lord Castlereagh. Wimbledon Retirement Association Website Talks about the archive and records It is intended in future that more time management services of the office were will be given to the content and design given to Commons’ and Lords’ staff on of the Office’s web pages and the overall induction courses, Commons’ Library staff, development of online services in connection and staff of the Parliamentary Education with the mounting of the catalogue Unit. databases. As a first step our public pages on the Internet have been redesigned. 18 ANNUAL REVIEW 2001–2002

Visits Archives Regional Council of which he is Treasurer. He is also a member of the Visiting archivists and librarians included executive committee of the Greater London Ms Heli Vainio and Ms Mirja Pakarinen Archives Network and chairs the Network’s from the Library of the Parliament training and meetings group. of Finland, Lenore Coltheart from the National Archives of Australia, and Caroline Shenton published the Society archivists from the Bodleian Library. of Archivists’ Best Practice Guideline 7 Archival Web Sites: a guide to creating, Amongst parliamentarians who visited designing, marketing and maintaining a the archives were Richard Bacon MP, web site for archive services (London, 2002). Baroness Hilton of Eggardon, Baroness She gave a number of training sessions for Massey of Darwen, and several overseas the Society in association with the EAD/ Clerks on short-term attachments to the Data Exchange group (of which she is an House of Commons and House of Lords. acting committee member) on web site design in London, Edinburgh and Warwick, Professional activities and with the Society’s Specialist Repository Katharine Bligh served on the Public Group in York on marketing web sites. Services Quality Group, the Quality Forum She presented training sessions on for Archives and Local Studies, and was cataloguing for the Archive Skills involved in the planning and organisation Consultancy, and lectured to University of the National Survey of Visitors to British College London archive students about Archives. the Office’s automation project. Caroline served as an assessor for the Society of Stephen Ellison served on the UK Political Archivists’ Registration Scheme and was Parties and Parliamentary Archives Group involved in the consultation process on the and on the steering committee of the Section new syllabus for the University College of Archives and Archivists of Parliaments London archive course. and Political Parties of the International Council on Archives. Mari Takayanagi served as Secretary of the Society of Archivists’ Education,Training Jennie Lynch served as Secretary of the & Development Committee and was the Society of Archivists Regions & Groups Society of Archivists’ observer on the Training & Development sub committee. Library Association’s Education & Personal She is working towards professional Membership Services Committee. registration. Matti Watton published “Recent Annual David Prior's article ‘Bringing Records Reports”, a review article in The Journal Management to Westminster: A Survey of the Society of Archivists (October 2001) of the Records of Parliament’ was published and spoke to archive and records inThe Table, 2001. During the year he was management students at University College elected to the Professional Register of the London about his experiences as a newly- Society of Archivists. He continued to serve qualified archivist. as one of the representatives of the Society of Archivists’ London Region on the London ANNUAL REVIEW 2001–2002 19

Resource Management Archives Organisation and financial Frances Grey, formerly Head of Records management and Information at the Charity Commission The Parliamentary The Parliamentary for England and Wales, was appointed to the The Record Office is one of several offices new post of Assistant Clerk of the Records that constitute the Clerk of the Parliaments’ and House of Lords Freedom of Department (the Parliament Office) of the Information Officer. House of Lords. However, in recognition of the fact that its activities support the Work placements administration of both Houses the Record Office is operated as a joint service of The Record Office aims to support the Parliament with its budgeted costs shared training and development of new archivists by the Lords and Commons in the ratio of by maintaining strong ties with the 60:40. university archive schools. In addition to the UCL group project mentioned elsewhere Information about the Office’s organisational other UCL students,Tamsin Kitch and context in the House of Lords administration Christopher Beckett, undertook archive and its financial performance are given in management placements, and Rachel Jarvis House of Lords Annual Report 2001-2002 on an archival description placement accessible at www.parliament.uk or available catalogued the papers of William Leveson in hard copy from The Stationery Office. Gower (1883-1918), a clerk in the House of Lords. Staff changes We are also pleased to assist Elizabeth Akers, Conservation prospective archivists requiring Officer, returned to the British practical experience before Library and was replaced by they apply for courses with Kathy McCarthy. the offer of short-term unpaid Michael Combe, Conservation placements. Ella Mizon, Officer, retired after 29 years’ a history graduate of the Royal dedicated service to the Holloway College, Office and was replaced University of London by Fred Pace. gained experience of records management Michele Losse, Jennie work and assisted in listing Lynch, Matti Watton and committee papers. Nick White joined as Particular gratitude is due cataloguing project archivists to Marie-Claire Wyatt, an on four year contracts undergraduate in Medieval responsible for retrospective Studies at Durham University, conversion of finding aids. who spent more than a month Matti Watton was appointed of her summer vacation Assistant Archivist at the providing valuable assistance National Gallery and was supporting the cataloguing replaced by Monica Halpin. project.

left:MONICA HALPIN,MICHELE LOSSE,JENNIE LYNCH, right:MATTI WATTON,NICK WHITE,FRANCES GREY 20 ANNUAL REVIEW 2001–2002

APPENDIX 1: Accessions

Archives The list of accessions which follows constitutes the 31st annual supplement to the Guide to the Records of Parliament (HMSO, 1971).

The Parliamentary The Parliamentary Items marked with an asterisk are subject to public access restrictions. Some administrative records will be destroyed in accordance with agreed retention periods. Departmental Records HOUSE OF LORDS Accountant’s Office Staff lists 1921-1989; Refreshment Department accounts 1957-1981; File on staff called up for war service 1939-1945; Refreshment Department correspondence files 1915-1948 (4 boxes)* Black Rod’s Office Handwritten family tree of Lord Great Chamberlain, c.1952 (1 roll) Prints of text for Chamber Guides in European languages, c.1979 (1 roll) Staff Superintendent's office files 1993-2001 (4 boxes)* Office files 1981-2001 (30 boxes)* Chairman of Committees Office Procedure Committee: Sub-Committee on Declaration and Registration of Interests 1994-1996 (3 boxes)* Clerk Assistant Information Technology Steering Group: Meetings papers 1996-1999 (2 boxes)* Lord Chancellor's Brief 1995-1999 (1 box)* Clerk of the Parliaments Office Petition to HM Queen to defend British Rights and Freedoms (facsimile copy), February 2001 (1 roll) Committee Office Records of the following committees: *(except for memoranda reported but not printed) European Union Committee: 2000-2001 (1 box) European Union Committee: Sub-committee A 2000-2001 (1 box), Sub-committee B 1999-2000 (7 boxes), Sub -Committee C 2000-2001 (1 box), Sub-committee E 2000-2001 (2 boxes) Science & Technology Committee 1996-2001 (1 box) Science & Technology Committee: Sub-committees I & II 1996-2001(13 boxes) Group on Procedure in the Chamber 1998-1999 (1 file) House of Lords Offices Committee: Library & Computers sub-committee 1999-2001 (2 boxes), Informal group on Smoking 1998-1999 (1 box), Advisory Panel on Works of Art 1991-1999 (1 box & 4 files) Select Committee to review Chinook ZD 576 Crash 2001-2002 (1 box) Select Committee on the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England 1999-2001 (1 box) ANNUAL REVIEW 2001–2002 21

Journal and Information Office Writs of Summons 1997-2001 (6 boxes) Sessional Statistics 2000-2001 (1 file) Judicial Office Petitions for leave to appeal 2000 (1 box) Appeal Cases 1999 (40 Volumes) Library Deposited papers 1996-1997 (16 boxes) Printed Paper Office Laying papers 2000-2002 (5 boxes and 113 files) Private Bill Office Private Business standing order amendments 1966-1990 (1 box) Leeds Supertram Orders 2001: orders and books of reference 2001 (1 file) Original Acts 2000 c. i-viii Transport & Works Order: orders, plans, books of reference 2001 (5 plans) Trawls for Committee Members - Atomic Energy Authority bill 1970 and Opposed Bill committees 1990-1993; Aircraft & Shipbuilding bill hybridity - documents 1976-77 (1 box)* Public Bill Office Original Acts 2000 c.1-44 (7 boxes) Papers of the Working Group on the format of state legislation 1996-2000; TSO performance monitoring reports 1996-1999; correspondence, manuals and other documentation on bill software 1989-2000 (3 boxes)* Refreshment Department Financial records 1999-2001 (40 boxes)* Staff Adviser Staff Review Reports 1992-2000 (10 boxes)*

HOUSE OF COMMONS Clerk's Department Office files 1980-1999 (2 boxes)* Committee Office: Records of the following committees: *(except for memoranda reported but not printed) Agriculture Committee 1997-2001 (8 boxes and 5 files) Culture, Media and Sport Committee 1996-2001 (7 boxes and 3 files) Defence Committee 1983-2001 (15 boxes and 1 file) Education and Employment Committee Papers 1997-2001 (7 boxes and 3 files) Environment Committee and Environment,Transport and Regional Affairs Committee 1992-2001 (14 boxes and 1 file) 22 ANNUAL REVIEW 2001–2002

Environmental Audit Committee 1997-2001 (4 boxes) European Legislation Committee 1991-1995 (71 boxes) European Scrutiny Committee 1987-1997 (18 boxes) Foreign Affairs Committee 1996-2001 (25 boxes) Health Committee 1997-2001 (5 boxes) Home Affairs Committee 2001 (1 file) International Development Committee 1998-2001 (7 files) Northern Ireland Affairs Committee 2000-2001 (1 file) Procedure Committee 1997-2001 (2 boxes) Public Accounts Committee 1995-2001 (30 boxes and 3 files) Public Administration Select Committee 2002 (1 file) Science & Technology Committee 1998-2001 (2 boxes and 2 files) Scottish Affairs Committee 1997-2001 (3 boxes and 1 file) Select Committee on the Adoption and Children Bill 2001 (1 box) Social Security Committee 1988-2001 (11 boxes and 1 file) Treasury and Civil Service Committee 1979-1992 (8 boxes) Treasury Committee:Treasury sub-committee 1990s-2001 (7 boxes) Treasury Committee 1992-2001 (29 boxes and 1 file) Welsh Affairs Committee 1997-2002 (6 boxes and 3 files) Work and Pensions Committee 2002 (1 file) Deliverer of the Vote Account books 1844-1970 (7 vols) Journal Office Minute Book pages for House of Commons chamber and Westminster Hall 1999-2000;Top copies of Petition Prayers 2000-2001 (3 boxes) Library Beta master videotapes and VHS copies of COI produced material,‘House of Commons Library’, 1987 & 1992, and Full Works produced material ‘House of Commons Library’ 1995 and ‘Members House of Commons Service Video’ 1996 (10 boxes)* Votes and Proceedings annotated for unprinted papers received by HC Library 1995-1997 1 box) Plan of Librarian's residence, 1850, Library Committee minutes 1840-56 (1 volume and 1 envelope) Official Report Electronic Publishing Group papers 1995-1997 (2 boxes)* Overseas Office Correspondence 1908-2000; Presentation of gifts to other parliaments files 1970-1995; Admin Guide for UK delegates 1984-1998; British Isles and Mediterranean Regional conferences papers 1971-1998 (15 boxes)* Parliamentary Estates Directorate Fees Office records including Speaker’s art fund papers, Christmas cards, calendars, postcards, negatives and copper plates used for printing 1930s-1960s (3 boxes)* ANNUAL REVIEW 2001–2002 23

Private Bill Office Bill papers 1996-2001 (7 boxes) Private Bill Committee minutes of proceedings 1839-1944 (168 vols), Evidence from the Court of Referees 1913-1946 (23 vols) and other Private Bill Office material, 1849-1985 (5 boxes) Public Bill Office Files on Private Members’ bills in Session 1994-95 (7 boxes)* Papers of the Printing and Publishing Management Group 1992-1997 (3 boxes)* Test Roll for 1997-2001 Parliament (1 item) Public Bills for Session 2000-2001 (4 boxes) Serjeant at Arms Department Office files 1880s-1980s (11 boxes)*

Other records relating to Parliament MS text entitled ‘Parliamentary Reform’ (Whig Register No. 3), c1810. Purchased. Letter from George Rennie to Sir Robert Inglis concerning the ventilation of the Palace of Westminster, 12 February 1852. Purchased. Letters to Ernest Brown MP,1911-1942. Purchased. Document detailing payments to Arthur Onslow, Speaker of the House of Commons, 1751. Purchased. Papers of James Atkinson, Office of Works, including reports relating to the restoration of the roof of Westminster Hall, 1879-1928. Purchased. Satirical postcard, 1912. Gift. Letters from George Jones, artist, to Lord Clifford, 1833-39. Purchased. Sir Reginald Bennett MP: papers relating to the House of Commons Yacht Club, 1955-2000. Gift.* Text of a speech given by an MP,17th century. Purchased. Papers, correspondence and engagement diaries 1936-83 of Maurice Bond; diaries 1956-73 of Shelagh Bond. Gift.* Correspondence and papers of Lord Braine of Wheatley, 1947-1993.* Receipt of a manuscript from John Stockdale, 1796. Purchased. Letter from Charles Stewart Parnell to the Liberal Chief Whip, 1882. Purchased. Letter from Austen Chamberlain to Lord Beaverbrook, 1931. Purchased. Study of Parliament Group: minutes, agendas, correspondence, membership lists, programmes, reports and other papers, 1964-1998.* 24ANNUAL REVIEW 2001–2002

APPENDIX 2: Staff of the Parliamentary Archives Archives Clerk of the Records: Assistant Archive Officers: Stephen Ellison, BA, MSc John Breslin

The Parliamentary The Parliamentary Stephen Noble, BA Assistant Clerks of the Records: David Prior, BA, MPhil, RMSA Conservation Officers: (User Services & Preservation) (Seconded by the British Library): Paul Slapp (Manager part-time) Caroline Shenton, MA, DPhil, Michael Combe (To 2 January 2002) DipARM, RMSA Brian Hopkins (Cataloguing & Online Services) Elizabeth Akers (To 16 September 2001) Frances Grey,BA (Records Management) Lois Jolly and House of Lords Freedom of Ray Rackham Information Officer Mark Naylor (from 3 September 2001) Kathy McCarthy (From 17 September 2001) Archivist (Modern Collections): Fred Pace (From 17 September 2001) Katharine Bligh, BA, RMSA Reprographics Officers: Records Manager: (Seconded by The Stationery Office): Paul Gibbons, BA, MSc, RMSA Stephen Chamberlain Archives Officer: Carol Ager Robert Harrison, BA David Trowbridge Secretary: Repository Housekeepers: Annie Pinder Gwen Neenham Madeline Cross Assistant Archivist/Records Manager: Denise Johnson Mari Takayanagi, MA (Oxon), MA (Archives & Records Management), RMSA Assistant Archivists (Electronic Cataloguing Project): Michele Losse BA, MA Jennie Lynch BA, MSc Matti Watton, BA, MA (To 8 February 2002) Nick White, BA, MA, DipAA, RMSA Monica Halpin, BA, MA, RMSA, AKC (From 28 January 2002) Published by The Stationery Office Limited Parliamentary Copyright House of Lords 2002 House of Lords Record Office 2002