Advisory Panel on Public Sector Information

The Prime Minister has appointed an independent team to review when Government records are made available to the public. This review will centre on whether, in the light of Freedom of Information and other considerations, there should be any changes to the ‘30 year rule’ – the time span under which most public records are transferred to The National Archives and opened for inspection. 

The 30-year rule review consultation was opened in early January and closed in mid-April 2008. The review team will report to the Prime Minister and the Lord Chancellor by the autumn of 2008.

APPSI believes the 30-year rule is anomalous in policy terms and unnecessarily inhibits the re-use of public sector information.

APPSI recommends that the emphasis of the 30-year rule is changed to one of openness; and that public records should be made available earlier to encourage greater re-use of public sector information.
Full response see The Panel’s response to Consultation on the 30 Year Rule (PDF - 160 KB)