HC Deb 30 November 1978 vol 959 cc319-20W
70. Mr. Newens

asked the Attorney-General under what circumstances public documents deposited at the Public Record Office for inspection and study by research workers, after the prescribed 30-year period during which they remain closed, may subsequently be withdrawn and withheld from public access.

Arthur Davidson:

Mr. Where documents in the Public Record Office are found to belong to a category of public records for which extended closure under the Public Records Acts 1958 and 1967 is approved, the documents are closed for an extended period. These categories are:

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;

Documents containing information supplied in confidence, the disclosure of which would or might constitute a breach of good faith; and

Documents containing information about individuals, the disclosure of which would cause distress or embarrassment to living persons or their immediate decentants.

Forward to