Sir Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 10 October to Question 81237 on Army: Public Records, for what reason his security service personal file (PF 44288) has not been made available by her Department for release to the National Archive.  [83220]

[Due for Answer on 23 October. Answered on 30 October.]

ANSWER 

The Minister of State for Security (Dan Jarvis): Government records are normally opened at the National Archives when they are 20-years old but, where they exist, some records are retained or closed, in line with the requirements of the Public Records Act 1958, in order to protect national security, international relations and sensitive personal data.