Public Records Act 1958

The Public Records Act 1958 is the main legislation governing public records in the United Kingdom.

Related Topics:
Public records - United Kingdom

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It established a cohesive regulatory framework for public records at the Public Record Office and other places of deposit. It also transferred responsibility for public records from the Master of the Rolls to the Lord Chancellor. The act stipulated that records would be transferred to the Public Record Office 30 years after creation and that most would be opened 50 years after creation. Subsection 3(4) of the act allowed government departments to retain records that were either still in use 30 years after creation or were of special sensitivity, such as intelligence agency materials and weapons of mass destruction information. The time of opening was subsequently reduced to 30 years by the Public Records Act 1967 and then access was completely redefined as being on creation, unless subject to an exemption, by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Related Topics:
Public Record Office - Master of the Rolls - Lord Chancellor - Public Records Act 1967 - Freedom of Information Act 2000

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~