Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 1 May 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 10 May 2002. It was answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Labour) on Friday, 10 May 2002 on behalf of the Lord Chancellor's Department.

Lord Chancellors Dept

Question: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if his policy not to release into the public domain records which may embarrass living persons also applies to the impact of such releases on institutions. - Inc ref to the Open Government White Paper (Cm2290, July 1993).

Answer: Norman Baker: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if his policy not to release into the public domain records which may embarrass living persons also applies to the impact of such releases on institutions. [54672] Ms Rosie Winterton: Records may be closed longer than thirty years under section 5(1) of the Public Records Act 1958 (as amended in 1967) with the permission of the Lord Chancellor. If records are to remain closed, they must satisfy the criteria for extended closure set out in the Open Government White Paper (Cm2290, July 1993). This does not allow for records to be closed if they may cause embarrassment, whether to an individual or an institution.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 385 c391W; 54672
Session: 2001-02
Related items: Royal Family: Disclosure of Information
Thursday, 16 July 2026
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Disclosure of information Freedom of information Public records
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk