Request
Would like to make an FOIA request for an unredacted copy of this entire file, please.
Could you please tell me:
1. Was it due to be released in 2021 (after 50 years of closure)? I presume that the MoD requested/demanded an extension to its closure period, but could you please tell me if that was the case?
2. Could you also please provide any documents related to this file which were submitted by the MoD as part of the review process or which were generated within TNA as a result of it?
3. Could you also please provide a list of the reason(s) why the file was not released in 2021 (as scheduled)?
4. Was the file’s release ever delayed before (e.g. was it due to be released after 30 years and then blocked by the MoD, or after 40 years, etc)?
Outcome
Some information provided.
Response
1. Was it due to be released in 2021 (after 50 years of closure)? I presume that the MoD requested/demanded an extension to its closure period, but could you please tell me if that was the case?
Each year The National Archives provides government departments with a list of records and extracts which are scheduled to open on New Year’s Day. This is referred to as the Security Report, which is run from The National Archives’ online catalogue, Discovery. This guidance describes how records should be handled following review by government departments.
In this instance, The National Archives notified the Cabinet Office that PREM 15/537 was scheduled to open in January 2021. More information about this can be found here:
Based on the Security Report, the Cabinet Office applied for an extension to the closure period of the record for an additional 10 years. For more information concerning rolling-ten closure periods please see our published guidance on closure periods:
https://cdn.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/information-management/closure-periods.pdf
2. Could you also please provide any documents related to this file which were submitted by the MoD as part of the review process or which were generated within TNA as a result of it?
Please see the PDF attachment, which contains the closure schedule for PREM 15/537. Some of this information is withheld under section 36(2)(b) of the FOIA 2000.
https://cdn.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/cas-92593-closure-applications-redacted.pdf
3. Could you also please provide a list of the reason(s) why the file was not released in 2021 (as scheduled)?
The Security Report contains details of a record’s sensitivities. On the basis of this information the Cabinet Office applies for an extension to the closure period. Following this, the Advisory Council on National Records and Archives (ACNRA) acts for the Secretary of State for DCMS (TNA’s sponsoring department) in deciding upon the validity of departmental requests for extensions to closure periods, and the FOI exemptions that are engaged. Details of the sensitivities that were reviewed by the Cabinet Office and Advisory Council are withheld under section 36(2)(b) of the FOIA 2000. Further guidance on the role of the Advisory Council can be found here:
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/our-role/advisory-council/role-of-the-advisory-council/
4. Was the file’s release ever delayed before (e.g. was it due to be released after 30 years and then blocked by the MoD, or after 40 years, etc)?
Yes, this file has received closure extensions from the Cabinet Office in 2000, 2010 and 2020.