30 year rule review

A website on the review of the '30-year rule' that was announced by the Prime Minister on 25th October 2007 has been launched. The review is underway and will report by summer 2008.

The terms of reference state:

"This review will centre on whether, in the light of Freedom of Information and other considerations, there should be any changes (and if so what) to the ‘30 year rule’ – the time span under which most public records are transferred to The National Archives and opened for inspection.

The review team will seek to strike the balance between more openness and how long, in the interests of good governance and national security, state papers need to be kept closed. It will identify options for change and for implementation, bearing in mind such factors as cost, whether as part of any new arrangements some categories of information should be prioritised for release, and any other issues the team believes are relevant to modernising the existing system."

You can submit your views until Friday 29 February 2008 via an online questionnaire or in writing to:

The Secretary
30-year Rule Review
c/o The National Archives
Kew
TW9 4DU
Tel: +44 020 8392 5210/ +44 020 8392 5375
secretary@30yearrulereview.org.uk