The legislation that covers our responsibilities for archives, particularly archives over 30 years old, is the National Archives Act, 1986 and the National Archives Act 1986, Regulations 1988.
The provisions of the Act with regard to departmental records can be summed up as follows:
1. All departmental records must be preserved, unless their destruction is authorised in writing by the National Archives.
2. In general, all departmental records which are more than 30 years old must be transferred to the National Archives and made available for inspection by the public.
3. Particular records may be retained by departments only if they are covered by certificates stating either:
Under national archives legislation, the department makes an annual transfer of records which are more than 30 years old by early December of each year to the National Archives.
Under the National Archives Act 1986, the National Archives provides services to the public by making available and accessible the records it acquires.
For further information, see the National Archives website.