National Archives of Scotland media preview of the 1969 records

17 Dec 1999

A selection of government records in Scotland for the year 1969 is to be made available for advance media inspection at the National Archives of Scotland (formerly the Scottish Record Office), on Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 December 1999.

Among the records which will be opened are files dealing with:

  • Financial problems in Upper Clyde Shipbuilders, and government intervention, 1967-9
  • The problem of youth gangs in Glasgow and the singer Frankie Vaughan’s attempts to solve the youth problems of Easterhouse
  • Concerns over migration to and from Scotland, 1968-9
  • Problems of crowd behaviour at football matches, 1968-9
  • Disturbances at Peterhead prison, 1965-9
  • Effects in Scotland of the British Standard Time experiment, 1967-9
  • Inspection of Glasgow’s Children’s Department, 1966-9
  • Development of Isle of Raasay - possible purchase of properties owned by Dr Green, 1968-9
  • Loans to Students

Other material of interest includes: papers on the James Watt Street fire in Glasgow, 1968; an alleged escape plan from the State Hospital at Carstairs, 1969; exclusion of school pupils, 1967-9; the problems of illegitimacy and unmarried mothers, 1968-9; closures of the Cupar sugar refinery, Burntisland shipyard and Inverurie railway works, 1969; disposal of radioactive substances, 1956-1969; concerns over the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry; build-up of the South Uist rocket range, 1968-9; proposals for a New Town at Stonehouse, 1968-9; removal and reinterment of Ensign Ewart’s body on Edinburgh Castle Esplanade, 1962-9; proposals for a national theatre of Scotland, 1949-6; and control of development around the Hunterston nuclear power station, 1968-9.

Under the 30 year rule, the records of the Secretary of State for Scotland’s departments, and of other government departments and nationalised industries in Scotland, for the year 1969, will become available for public inspection in the National Archives of Scotland from Wednesday 5 January 2000.

NOTES TO NEWS EDITORS

  1. Inspection of these records will take place in the

    2. West Search Room
    West Register House
    Charlotte Square
    EDINBURGH

    over two days, Wednesday 29and Thursday 30 December 1999. The media preview will run from 9.30am to 4.30pm on both days. No closure will take place for lunch, and a member of NAS staff will be in attendance at all times to give guidance and assistance.

  2. Publication of material from or about these records is embargoed until 0001 hours on Saturday 1 January 2000.
  3. It is essential that representatives of the media who wish to attend the preview should give NAS staff advance notice of their intended visit. At this time of year public use of the West Search Room can be unpredictable, and seating may be at a premium.
  4. The West Search Room is a public search area and standard rules governing use of documents there will apply. Smoking, eating and drinking are prohibited at all times. Use of pencils rather than ink pens is mandatory and will be strictly enforced. In the interests of other researchers, mobile phones may not be used in the Search Room. Photocopies for media representatives' own use can be supplied at 30p per sheet (plus VAT). Publication of any Crown Copyright material may attract a reproduction fee.