Transparency data

Instrument for the Retention of Public Records

The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport makes this instrument under the power conferred on her by Section 3(4) of the Public Records Act 1958, to authorise the retention beyond 20 years of public records where this is necessary for national security reasons.

Documents

Details

The Public Records Act ordinarily requires that public records selected for permanent preservation at The National Archives are transferred before they are 20 years old. This requirement does not apply in certain circumstances where the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has given the body holding them her approval for their retention.

The instrument authorises the retention beyond 20 years of public records where this is necessary for national security reasons. It takes effect on 1 January 2022 and expires on 31 December 2031.

Published 11 October 2012
Last updated 24 February 2022 + show all updates
  1. Published updated Instrument for the Retention of Public Records.

  2. First published.