HC Deb 19 November 1998 vol 319 cc724-5W
Sir Richard Body

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 26 October 1998,Official Report, column 59, if he will make a statement on his policy on the preservation of material of historical value held on file by the security services relating to the 1975 referendum on United Kingdom membership of the Common Market. [60444]

Mr. Straw

The responsibility for decisions on the destruction of Security Service files rests with the Director General. The criteria which the Service applies in deciding whether to retain files on the grounds of historical interest were listed in my reply to a question from the hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis) on 20 January 1998, Official Report, columns 519-20. The criteria are currently being reviewed by the Advisory Council on Public Records.