Advisory Group on Security and Intelligence Records
The Cabinet Office, with the agreement of the Permanent Secretary, Intelligence, Security and Resilience has established an interdepartmental Advisory Group on Security and Intelligence Records. The group's first formal meeting was held in July 2004, and it plans to meet at roughly six-monthly intervals to consider a range of issues concerning intelligence – related records.
The group is chaired by the Head of Cabinet Office Histories, Openness and Records Unit, Tessa Stirling, and includes representatives from:
- the UK's Intelligence Agencies
- the Foreign & Commonwealth Office,
- Ministry of Defence
- Home Office
- The National Archives (TNA)
From the academic community, the group also includes:
- Professor Christopher Andrew (University of Cambridge)
- Professor Peter Hennessy (University of London)
The purpose of the group, as set out in its agreed terms of reference, is
‘To facilitate scholarly development and use, by historians and other researchers, of security and intelligence records that are already available, and to facilitate and identify other security and intelligence records which might be made publicly available’.
In fulfilling this aim, the group will provide expert guidance on intelligence–related records to the official, archival and academic communities, reflecting the high level of public interest in such records.
This interest has been encouraged in recent years by the increasing availability of intelligence–related records. A great deal of material is now open at TNA, including files transferred by the Security Service and GCHQ. However, many people still ask TNA and government departments:
- What is and is not available?
- Where can it be found?
- How are decisions taken on whether to release material?
- What difference does the Freedom of Information Act make?
The advisory group will help to answer these questions by providing information and guidance through this website. The group cannot answer enquiries about specific records or Freedom of Information requests, which should continue to be addressed to TNA or individual departments. If there is a particular area of guidance that you consider would be helpful, however, you may email the group at recordsgroup@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
Further information
Advisory Group meetings
Summaries of Advisory Group meetings will be made available following acceptance of the minutes.
National Intelligence Machinery
For information about the records of the security and intelligence agencies, see National Intelligence Machinery [PDF, 160KB, 37 pages].
Research Guide to Intelligence Records in the National Archives
Research Guide to Intelligence Records - An online guide to help you find and interpret the records you need for your research. The guide will highlight newly released records.
Articles relating to security and intelligence related topics
Security Service Records Retention and Release Policy by Sir Stephen Lander, Director General Security Service (1996-2002).
Security Service documents release talk
Professor Christopher Andrew talks about espionage and tracking down enemy agents [External website] [27 February 2008]
On-line exhibition
Security and Intelligence history [External website]
