The Keeper Launches Public Records Consultation

The Keeper of the Records of Scotland (the Keeper) is calling for contributions to a consultation on proposed changes to his Model Records Management Plan which assists authorities in meeting their record keeping obligations.

Under the Public Records (Scotland) Act 2011 (PRSA,) the Keeper is required to assess and agree records management plans submitted by public authorities.

PRSA has now been in operation for over five years, and the Keeper is reviewing his Model Plan, which was published to help public authorities comply with the Act.

Last year, the Keeper invited information specialists across various sectors to form a Stakeholder Forum and to review the Model Plan, to help him determine what modifications might be appropriate, if any.

You can find notes of their discussions here.

The draft revised Model Plan supports best practice guidance under each element to make it easier for authorities to complete and it makes reference to our data protection obligations where appropriate.

There is a new element in the draft revised Plan, as stakeholders were particularly keen to include an explicit reference to public records created by third parties who are under contract to a named public authority

The Model Plan is statutory guidance which must be developed and published by the Keeper under the Act. S8(2) of the Act requires him to consult authorities and other persons he considers appropriate, and to take their views into consideration in his response.

The Keeper has therefore published the draft revised Model Plan for formal consultation. 

This consultation will close at 17:00 on Thursday 7th March 2019. 

The Keeper encourages all those with an interest in the Model Plan to participate in this consultation to record their views on the proposed amendments.

Any enquiries about this consultation should be submitted to the assessment team via email. [email protected]