§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) of 20 May,Official Report, column 60, if he will list the three criteria which govern closure of records; and if he will make a statement. [31552]
§ Mr. StreeterThe three categories of public record which are to be closed for public inspection for longer than 30 years are as set out in chapter 9 of the 1993 White Paper, "Open Government" (Cm 2290). They are:
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- exceptionally sensitive records containing information, the disclosure of which would not be in the public interest in that it would harm the defence, international relations, national security—including the maintenance of law and order—or the economic interests of the United Kingdom and its dependent territories;
- 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 either substantial distress, or endangerment from a third party, to persons affected by disclosure or their descendants.