Written question asked by Lord Laird (Ulster Unionist Party), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Brabazon of Tara (Non-affiliated) on Tuesday, 27 March 2012.

Spencer Perceval

Question: To ask the Chairman of Committees whether there are plans to mark the two hundredth anniversary of the assassination of Spencer Perceval on 11 May 1812 in the Palace of Westminster; and, if the anniversary will be marked, when the decision to mark the event was taken, by whom, and after what process.

Answer: The Parliamentary Archives, which is leading on the commemoration for both Houses, will be marking the 200th anniversary of the assassination of Spencer Perceval with a display of records and artwork in the Royal Gallery, which will run from early May to mid-August 2012. The display will be seen by visitors to Parliament on the visitor route throughout the summer. On the day of the anniversary there will be other activities including new web pages on the Living Heritage section of the parliamentary website, a Twitter feed, and a lunchtime talk by the Clerk of the Records. The Archives will also be participating in a BBC Parliament programme on the assassination, which is currently under discussion. Such matters are a core activity of the Parliamentary Archives, working with the Information Office, and are reflected in published business plans. The marking of this anniversary has been in the Parliamentary Archives' business plan since October 2010, and was first published as a target in the 2011-12 House of Lords business plan (see HL Paper 132, p26). The Clerk of the Records is responsible for all business planning activities in the Parliamentary Archives, and the decision was taken by her after consultation with her public services and outreach team in the course of the usual business planning cycle in summer 2010.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 16699; 736 c246-7WA
Session: 2010-12
Subjects: Anniversaries Prime ministers Palace of Westminster Assassination Perceval, Spencer
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk