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Redacted under FOI Exemption S 27(1)
3. We were, however, a little puzzled by the reference
in paragraph 4 of your letter to the transfer of
original records as well as microfiche to London, and
we need some clarification before we can advise you.
Do you have in mind the EXCO records which are
regularly sent to London and which can readily be
protected, or some other collection of which we have
not yet heard?
Protection of the microfiche
4. While we may eventually need to resort to both
sections 3(4) and 5(1) of the 1958 Act as amended,
Duncan and I are certain that we must go for retention
under S.3(4) in the first instance. From soundings
taken in the Lord Chancellor's Department we believe
that any application would be looked upon favourably.
While it is true that any approval under Section 3(4)
is limited in duration, though not necessarily to
5 years, approvals can be renewed. We shall need to
put forward an application when the first fiche, if
they contain records more than 30 years old, are due
to arrive.
5.
Nohy Para 3 should "smoke out
this question. I KV. N Applications to the Lord Chancellor for extende7
closure under the terms of section 5(1) are put to
him under the PRO references with justification for
each item. This is clearly not the way forward for
the moment, but we or rather our successors might
have to contemplate using the section if the micro-
fiche were no longer required for administrative
purposes or were at risk from poor storage etc.
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16.
However,