§ Mr. Newensasked the Attorney-General if he will give an estimate of the percentage of public records retained for eventual release for public scrutiny which remained closed after 30 years in 1963, 1968, 1973, 1978 and the last year for which the information is available.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralAbout 1 per cent. at present. Comparable information for earlier years is not available.
§ Mr. Newensasked the Attorney-General if he will list the grounds on which public records are not opened to public inspection after 30 years of closure.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralThe criteria used in considering applications for extended closure of records under section 5(1) of the Public Records Act 1958 are:
- (i) Exceptionally sensitive papers, the disclosure of which would be contrary to the public interest whether on security or other grounds (including the need to safeguard the Revenue);
- (ii) Documents containing information supplied in confidence the disclosure of which might constitute a breach of good faith;
- (iii) Documents containing information about individuals, the disclosure of which would cause distress to or endanger living persons or their immediate descendents.
§ Mr. Newensasked the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the procedure for arriving at a decision to open public records which have been subjected to a period of closure in excess of 30 years; and whether regular reviews are made at fixed intervals to ascertain whether the original reasons for maintaining the closure are still valid.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralPublic records closed for more than 30 years are opened automatically on the expiry of the extended closure period unless the Lord Chancellor, having regard to the particular case, has authorised either a further period of closure or the accelerated opening of the record in question because its sensitivity has lapsed. Although there are no regular reviews, in 1982 there were 93 cases in which earlier opening dates were authorised.
§ Mr. Newensasked the Attorney-General if any public records opened to public inspection after a period of closure of 30 years have subsequently been withdrawn and subjected to an additional prescribed period since 1 January 1979; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The answer to the second part of the question accordingly does not arise.