Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what targets have been set for the release of his Department's material to the National Archives; what progress has been made in meeting those targets; and how many staff in his Department are engaged in reviewing records for that purpose.

Core DECC records are released to The National Archives in accordance with the Public Records Act 1958, and the review and transfer process has been rescheduled to reflect the reduction of the 30 year release period to 20 years. Review is undertaken by BIS as a shared service using 0.75 FTE.

DECC also has responsibility for records created by the National Coal Board. Due to the size and complexity of this material, these records are now covered by a Lord Chancellor’s Instrument until 2023 and DECC has a rolling programme of review and transfer, agreed and monitored by The National Archives. Review is contacted out and undertaken by 1.5 FTEs, and is due for completion by 2023.