Despite austerity, have secured additional resources for the public records work: doubled Sensitivity Reviewers from 14 to 28, have additional admin support staff and currently strengthening management layer in archive team, so well placed to meet demands ahead.
Nearly doubled the number of files transferred to TNA in 2012 (see below)
Files 12000
10000
8000
6000
Files
4000
2000
0 2009
2010
2011
2012
Number of files transferred to The National Archives by the FCO in 2009 - 2012
This includes more than half of the colonial administration files (remaining 3 tranches available in July, September and November). It is worth noting that normally, only around 40% of any given series of FCO files would be selected and the rest destroyed. In the case of the colonial files, given the prevalence of conspiracy theories, we agreed with TNA and with our Independent Reviewer, Professor Badger, that none of the files would be destroyed. There has been a minimal amount of material—less than 1%—redacted or not open at TNA. Any closed material has followed PRA or FOIA requirements e.g. for personal data. NB there is no FOI exemption for embarrassing the FCO/HMG so that has not been a factor. The whole process has been overseen by Independent Reviewer.
Despite significant reinforcement of our efforts, we cannot do everything as quickly as we—or you—might like. We want to be sure we are prioritising material of widest/greatest interest. To do this, we draw on information kindly supplied by TNA about most frequently read classes of files. We will be explaining in a bit more detail in the next talk, but broad priority has been:
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