30 Dec 1999
Government files accumulated by the former Scottish Office will be made available for inspection after 30 years unless there are "persuasive reasons for maintaining closure", Scotland Office Minister of State, Brian Wilson, said today.
At present some 8000 files pertaining to the Scottish Office are subject to closures of beyond 30 years. Usually, this has been for reasons of national security or because they contain sensitive personal or commercial information supplied in confidence.
Mr Wilson said: "In future, there will be a presumption of openness. From my own experience, I know it is sometimes very difficult to understand why files have been kept closed for so long. It will now be possible for researchers to ask for specific files, which are subject to closures beyond 30 years, to be re-examined with an appeal available, if necessary, at Ministerial level."
He recalled that, starting in 1994, a review was carried out of 13,000 Scottish Office files with closures beyond 30 years and, as a result, 5000 were classified as open to scrutiny at an earlier date.
Mr Wilson said: "It is unnecessary to repeat that whole review. However, I believe that, in the interests of open Government, it should be possible for researchers who are seeking specific information to have the right to challenge a closure decision. I am sure that this will be welcomed by researchers and journalists who make serious use of the public records."
NOTE FOR NEWS EDITORS
Current Government policy on file closures and access to government information is based on the White Paper Open Government(Cm 2990, 1993); the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information(2ndedition, 1997), and the Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Government Information(1999).