MHK Wants 25 Year Rule

Gov papers could be released after 25 years, if Tynwald backs a motion by Garff MHK Daphne Caine.

Mrs Caine will bring the motion to Tynwald in July in a bid to align the island with our nearest neighbours.

If Tynwald backs Mrs Caine, then CoMin (and its predecessor the Executive Council) and other gov papers would be released, with exemptions applied to sensitive documents.

This would be done through the Public Record Office and would be treated in the same was as the FoI process (take that as you will). If her motion success, Tynwald would call on the Registrar General to submit a report by the last day of November, with recommendations, containing a schedule for implementing this principle, and identification of resource implications.

Mrs Caine said the matter was brought to her attention by a constituent and would bring the island in line with neighbouring jurisdictions which makes these documents public and often makes for interesting reading for researchers, historians and political commentators.

She said: ‘The motion calls on the Public Records Office Registrar General to work out a plan to implement releasing all Isle of Man Government papers after 25 years, with the safeguard of longer closure periods for sensitive matters as specified. It also seeks to harmonise the release of other public records at 25 years also – currently these are released to the Public Records Office after 25 years but only made public after 30 years.

‘If Tynwald supports my motion, a plan on how to commence publication of government papers, with resource implications, would come to Tynwald towards the end of the year for approval. It is surprising that there has never been a call for this previously, from the public, academic researchers or media. Everyone I have discussed it with seem to be in favour of the principle – as holding government papers in perpetual secrecy is surely inconsistent with a modern, open and accountable democracy.’