Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 22 January 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 30 January 2002. It was answered by Lord Blunkett (Labour) on Wednesday, 30 January 2002 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the policy of MI5 is in respect of release of its post-1945 records to the Public Record Office. - (Holding answer 29 January 2002).

Answer: Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the policy of MI5 is in respect of release of its post-1945 records to the Public Record Office. [30665] Mr. Blunkett: [holding answer 29 January 2002]: The Security Service systematically reviews and where appropriate releases historical records to the Public Record Office in accordance with the criteria agreed with them and endorsed by the Advisory Council. The Security Service has reviewed and released all archived files covering the first world war. Moving on to the second world war, the second phase in its release programme, the service released in November 2001 its fourth tranche of files on the period up to the end of that war. The service is reviewing its inter-war records in preparation for further releases. It will then move on to the period after the second world war. The timing of this depends on the resources that the service is able to devote to the process.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 30665; 379 c401W;379 c397W
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Disclosure of information Intelligence services Public records MI5 Public Record Office
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk