HC Deb 23 July 1997 vol 298 c671W
Mr. Baker

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her answer of 15 July,Official Report, column 140, under what categories of part 2 of the code of practice on access to government information she has decided not to release the 1952 Atomic Energy Board minutes and papers. [9954]

Mr. Battle

[holding answer 22 July 1997]: The 1952 Atomic Energy Board minutes and papers are being retained under the provisions of section 3(4) of the Public Records Act 1958. The code of practice on access to government information provides access rights to official information. The code does not provide an access right to documents nor is it intended to override statutory provisions on access to public records. A request for information contained in many of the 1952 Atomic Energy Board minutes and papers would have to be refused under exemption 1 in part 2 of the code.

Mr. Baker

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her answer of 15 July,Official Report, column 140, if she will define the areas of sensitivity in the 1952 Atomic Energy Board minutes and papers. [9955]

Mr. Battle

[holding answer 22 July 1997]: Defence and security considerations comprise the areas of sensitivity in the 1952 Atomic Energy Board minutes and papers.