Public inquiries in Scotland investigate areas of serious public concern. After an inquiry, the inquiry team must deposit their records with us.
Public inquiry records are significant historical documents. They detail and scrutinise:
- past decisions
- events
- injustices
Inquiries need to create and manage information in the correct way. This ensures the record transferred to us meets the needs of future policy makers, researchers, and citizens.
Inquiry responsibilities
Inquiry chairs have a duty to:
- consult with the Keeper of the Records of Scotland on how their records are created, maintained and transferred to us
- seek to ensure that the record of the inquiry is comprehensive and well-ordered
- transfer the record of the inquiry to the Keeper
This is a legal requirement under The Inquiries (Scotland) Rules 2007.
Guidance for inquiries
We've created guidance to assist inquiries with the:
- management of records
- development of record-keeping systems,
- information governance
- inquiry website
- selection of records for permanent preservation
- transfer of records to the Keeper at the end of an inquiry
This guidance is for:
- the secretariat of an inquiry
- other inquiry staff with key responsibilities for the management of information and records
You can access this guidance.
Contact us
If you are a Scottish Public Inquiry, or have a question about archived records of a Scottish Public Inquiry, contact us.
