§ Mr. Newensasked the Attorney-General if he will indicate his policy on the release of documents for public scrutiny and study which relate to the activities of intelligence agencies; and whether there is an accepted criterion for determining the length of the period for which such records are closed.
The Attorney-GeneralOn the first part of the question I have nothing to add to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker) on 5 February. On the second part of the question, records dealing with intelligence and security matters which remain sensitive on that account after 30 years are withheld by the Departments concerned under section 3(4) of the Public Records Act 1958 with the approval of the Lord Chancellor. This approval is subject to periodic review.