HC Deb 07 February 1968 vol 758 cc174-5W
Mr. Emery

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of his Department's office records and files date back over three years, five years and seven years.

Mr. Gordon Walker:

Teachers' personal files account for about 55 per cent. of the records held by my Department. These files are retained for five years after the death of the teacher or until age 85. Information about the percentage of these records that date back three, five or seven years is not available.

Of the remaining records, approximately 91 per cent. are more than three years old; considerable research would be necessary to determine the percentage that are more than five or seven years old. Retention of these files is regularly reviewed in accordance with the provisions of the Public Records Act, 1958.