§ Sir Ivan LawrenceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the review of the blanket retention of civil and home defence records announced in the White Paper on open government has been completed.
§ Mr. HowardThe review of the blanket retention of civil and home defence records has been completed. I am pleased to announce that with the approval of the Lord Chancellor, it has been decided not to renew the blanket provision. This is in line with the open government initiatives introduced by the Government where the emphasis is on release rather than retention of records.
Government Departments which hold records relating to civil and home defence will now review them individually on the basis of guidance provided jointly by my Department and the Cabinet Office, with a view to releasing those which are no longer regarded as sensitive.