Setting the record straight

Citation

(2003), "Setting the record straight", Work Study, Vol. 52 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ws.2003.07952caf.009

Setting the record straight

The UK Public Record Office (PRO) provides advice and guidance to records managers across central government. This covers the entire life cycle of public records, in whatever format, from creation through to destruction or transfer to the PRO. In the Modernising Government White Paper, all, government organisations were set a target to manage their records electronically by 2004. The PRO is now working to ensure that this is met. At the same time, the amount of paper currently held by central government is larger than ever, and needs to be properly managed to allow departments to operate effectively. Good records management will also be essential if government is to meet the requirements of Data Protection, Freedom of Information and Human Rights Legislation. This work is carried out by the Records Management Department.

The records management department (RMD) provides advice and guidance to government departments and other public record bodies on the management of records, and their selection and transfer to the PRO. Members of RMD spend much of their time visiting departments, where they:

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  provide advice on all aspects of records management, including drawing up schedules for disposing of records when they are no longer required;

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  agree with departments which records should be selected for permanent preservation, and discuss those which should be closed for longer than 30 years and those which can be opened early; and

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  provide advice on cataloguing and packing documents prior to their transfer to the PRO.

One of the main initiatives currently under way in RMD is planning for electronic records. This includes setting up proper systems to manage them, storing those selected for permanent preservation and making them available to the public.