§ Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domerasked Her Majesty's Government:
What support is given by central government to ensure that a complete network of adequately resourced local records centres is available across England and Wales in addition to any local authority settlement. [HL152]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Baroness Ashton of Upholland)The network of local archive service services that have been approved as places of deposit for public records by The National Archives extends throughout England and Wales. Experienced TNA staff periodically visit local archive services in order to check that nationally agreed standards are being maintained. Since 1997 TNA has part-funded an advisory service that has assisted local authorities to obtain grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund and other grant-awarding bodies for new archive buildings and improved access facilities.
§ Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domerasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the level of support given by central government to ensure a complete network of adequately resourced local records centres has changed since the extra requirements for information arising from various relevant European Union directives have come into force, and if so, by what percentage. [HL153]
§ Baroness Ashton of UphollandCompliance with all new information legislation crucially depends on public authorities' ability to manage their record effectively. The National Archives (TNA) has provided a wide range of guidance to local authorities on records management to help them to meet their obligations under new legislation. In 2003 it formed a new Records Management Advisory Service with the specific remit of promoting better records management throughout the public sector, especially in local government. Since this work is essentially40WA advisory and qualitative, it is not possible to express TNA's increased activity in terms of a single percentage figure.