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Lord Chancellors Dept

Answer

Norman Baker: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what her policy is on the release of papers from the Public Record Office relating to the royal family; how these rules differ according to whether the relevant member of the royal family is (a) alive and (b) dead; and what considerations as to the potential embarrassment caused by a release of papers apply in respect of (i) living and (ii) dead members of the royal family. [55741] Ms Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to him on 14 May 2002, Official Report, column 593W. It is for the originating Government Department to determine the release of papers relating to the royal family, wherever they are held. The policy under which this is conducted derives from the Open Government Code, which applies in the same way to public records relating to the royal family as it does to other public records. One of the Open Government criteria under which records may remain closed beyond 30 years covers documents whose release would cause `substantial distress' either to an individual or to descendants of the individual. The inclusion of "descendants" means that the criterion may apply whether the relevant individual is alive or dead. Under the Open Government Code, `potential embarrassment' is not a factor in determining closure or release.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

55741; 386 c415W

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Disclosure of information Public records Royal family Public Record Office

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk