§ The Earl of Northeskasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they consider that the alleged destruction of information and documents by government departments, as reported in the Daily Telegraph on 27 November, represents an appropriate preparation for the coming into force of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. [HL255]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Baroness Ashton of Upholland)All organisations responsible for public records carry out the disposal of records not identified as worthy of permanent preservation according to agreed disposal schedules. The mechanism covering disposals of public records is set out in Section 3 of the Public Records Act 1958, which places a duty upon every person responsible for such records to make arrangements for their safe-keeping and for the selection of any records which ought to be permanently preserved.
Departmental action to select records worthy of permanent preservation, and to destroy those not selected, is carried out under the guidance, coordination and supervision of the Keeper of Public Records and trained National Archives staff. The National Archives (TNA) has developed a raft of policies and guidance in the area of records management and selection. Precise criteria for the 88WA disposal of public records vary from department to department, in accordance with their business needs.
Further information can be obtained from the National Archives website at: www.nationalarchives. gov.uk/recordsmanagement.
The Freedom of Information Act has undoubtedly brought a renewed focus on good records management, and paragraph 9 of the Lord Chancellor's code of practice on records management (issued under Section 46 of the Act) recognises that the managed destruction of records is a proper and necessary part of efficient record keeping.