KEY missing documents relating to a major Government inquiry into historical child abuse could reside within the Bodleian Library.

It was yesterday confirmed that experts at Oxford University’s famous book repository are working with Scotland Yard to trawl through the papers of former Labour cabinet minister Barbara Castle, donated in 2003 and 2006.

The archive is rumoured to contain records of the “Dickens Dossier,” compiled by former Conservative MP Geoffrey Dickens, which went missing after being handed to the Home Office in 1983.

It is alleged that the files contain the names of 16 MPs, senior policemen, headteachers, clergy and other establishment figures linked to child abuse.

Bodleian Library head of communications Suzanne de la Rosa said: “Recent news reports have suggested that the ‘Dickens Dossier’ may be located within the Castle archives.

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“In our original cataloguing work, the ‘Dickens Dossier’ was not identified among the papers.

“But in light of recent events we have undertaken further targeted checks for the dossier, without result.

“Scotland Yard is aware of the archive and we are assisting with their enquiries.”

The extensive Castle papers – which comprise more than 860 boxes of material – are kept in the library’s special collections in Oxford, Ms de la Rosa said.

They include political papers, correspondence, as well as pictures.

Ms de la Rosa added: “We have been working with the police for about a week.

“Scotland Yard has not physically come here and nothing has been taken away.

“We asked our archivists to lead the targeted search as they were most familiar with the archives.”

The Government inquiry, set up in July, will investigate whether public bodies and other institutions have taken seriously their duty of care to protect children from sexual abuse in England and Wales.

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