UK moves from 30 to 20 in steps!
The UK Ministry of Justice has published two press releases. The first titled: Government papers to be made public 10 years earlier. The second titled: Response to the 30-year rule review
The press release date 26th February 2010 states:
“Public records will be made available automatically 10 years earlier under new legislation announced today.
The changes will be implemented through amendments to the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill, tabled in the House of Commons on Thursday 25 February.
The changes form part of the government's response to the independent 30-year rule review, chaired by Paul Dacre, which examined the length of time after which government records were generally disclosed to the public. Under new rules to come into force, the vast majority of government information will be released to The National Archives after 20 years, rather than the existing 30 years. Most exemptions in the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act will also be brought into line with this.
It is anticipated that the changes will be implemented over a ten-year period once the amendment comes in to force to allow for the transfer of at least two million paper files to the National Archives.
Justice Minister Michael Wills said:
'This decision will result in increased transparency and accountability in government, by allowing the public to access and scrutinise important historical documents much earlier than at present. It's a significant step forward in providing access to information held by public authorities.
'Reducing the 30-year rule to 20 years in this way will help to reinforce public trust in government decision making and strengthen our democracy, while still protecting the essential constitutional relationships that underpin our system of governance.
'Our overriding goal is to preserve the best possible national record of public affairs, making this available to people as soon as possible. These changes are being made as a result of the recommendations made by the independent committee of Paul Dacre, Professor David Cannadine and Sir Joe Pilling and the government remains very grateful for their important and thorough report.'
The government will also be legislating for additional protection for information relating to communications produced by a small number of members of the Royal Family. Information relating to communications with the sovereign, the heir to the throne, and the second in line to the throne, or those acting on their behalf, will be subject to an absolute exemption of either 20 years, or for five years after their death, whichever occurs latest.
Such information relating to other members of the Royal Family, or those acting on their behalf, will be protected by a qualified exemption for 20 years or for their lifetime plus five years, whichever occurs latest. However, this information may be available earlier where it is in the public interest. These changes relating to royal records were not specific recommendations of the 30-year rule review. Their need arises from unintended lacunae in the drafting of the FOI Act.”
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The press release date 25th February 2010 states:
“The government has published its response to the 30-year rule review.
In October 2007 the Prime Minister announced an independent review of the 30-year rule, which governs the point at which government records of historical significance are transferred to The National Archives and other local places of deposit.
The review team published their report in January 2009, recommending a significant reduction to the 30-year rule. The review team's full findings are available on the 30-year rule website
The government supports the recommendation that the 30-year rule should be reduced substantially.”
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