Ministers and Members of Parliament: Correspondence

HL Deb 26 February 2003 vol 645 cc41-2WA

Lord Henley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What guidance they give to departments as to how long they should retain copies of correspondence between Ministers and Members of Parliament relating to constituency problems.[HL1868]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

Ministers' official papers, including correspondence with Members of Parliament relating to the work of departments, are public records. In common with all public records, they are reviewed for disposal or preservation in line with the requirements of the Public Records Acts 1958 and 1967, the latter of which established the 30-year rule. The Public Record Office has published guidance entitledManagement of Private Office Papers, which is available on the Public Record Office website at: www.pro.gov.uk/recordsmanagement/stancLards/privateoffice.

Copies of this guidance will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.