§ 35. Dr. Liam FoxTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what measures his Department is taking to increase the availability of formerly secret public records.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe White Paper on open government was published on 15 July. We have provided, in chapter 9, information about measures designed to increase the number of public records which are made available in the Public Record Office.
These include:
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- a "harm test", which requires records to be released after 30 years unless to do so would cause actual damage,
- more exacting criteria for withholding records for more than 30 years,
- a reduction in the periods for which such material can be withheld beyond 30 years,
- improved procedures for the management of records, and,
- a commitment by all departments, subject to the availability of resources, to re-review all records currently withheld for more than 30 years.
All Government Departments including the Cabinet Office—Office of Public Service and Science—will put these measures into effect as soon as possible.