Cullen Inquiry

Advocate-General written question – answered at on 1 November 2004.

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Photo of Anne McIntosh Anne McIntosh Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), Shadow Minister (Transport)

To ask the Advocate-General

(1) what role she played in the decision to place a 100-year closure on the Cullen Inquiry into the Dunblane tragedy;

(2) on what basis the decision was taken to place a 100-year closure on the Cullen Inquiry into the Dunblane tragedy;

(3) what statutory basis was cited in placing a 100-year closure on the Cullen Inquiry.

Photo of Dr Lynda Clark Dr Lynda Clark Advocate General for Scotland, Department for Constitutional Affairs, Advocate General for Scotland

I played no role in the decision to place a 100-year closure on the Cullen Inquiry into the Dunblane tragedy and, accordingly, had no part in any decision regarding closure periods relating to that Inquiry.

Given the above, I was not involved in any citation of a statutory basis for placing a 100-year closure on Cullen Inquiry papers. I understand, however, that there is no statutory basis for the closure of records created by Scottish public bodies. The Public Records (Scotland) Act 1937 ("the 1937 Act") makes provision for the preservation, care and custody of the public records of Scotland. The terms of the legislation are permissive. I understand that the criteria for closures longer than 30 years were defined in the 1993 White Paper on Open Government (Cm 2290) and that the principles set out in that White Paper are relevant in decision-making on disclosure.

Does this answer the above question?

Yes1 person thinks so

No2 people think not

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