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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Secret papers face faster release | Secret papers face faster release |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The 30-year rule on publishing confidential UK government papers should be reduced to 15 years, an official review is expected to say. | |
| The independent review, headed by the editor of the Daily Mail, Paul Dacre, was set up by Gordon Brown shortly after he became prime minister. | The independent review, headed by the editor of the Daily Mail, Paul Dacre, was set up by Gordon Brown shortly after he became prime minister. |
| Most papers are transferred to the National Archives after 30 years. | |
| The review recommends moving towards the change to 15 years by releasing an additional year's records each year. | The review recommends moving towards the change to 15 years by releasing an additional year's records each year. |
| This means anyone hoping for a speedy revelation of secrets from the mid-1990s is likely to be disappointed. | |
| At present, some papers are released sooner than 30 years as a result of Freedom of Information requests. | At present, some papers are released sooner than 30 years as a result of Freedom of Information requests. |
| The Public Records Act 1958 introduced the right of access to government records with a 50-year rule, which was reduced to 30 years in 1967. | The Public Records Act 1958 introduced the right of access to government records with a 50-year rule, which was reduced to 30 years in 1967. |
| Also sitting on the review panel with Mr Dacre were historian Professor Sir David Cannadine and Sir Joseph Pilling, former Permanent Secretary at the Northern Ireland Office. | Also sitting on the review panel with Mr Dacre were historian Professor Sir David Cannadine and Sir Joseph Pilling, former Permanent Secretary at the Northern Ireland Office. |
| The government will decide whether or not to act on their recommendations. | The government will decide whether or not to act on their recommendations. |