Search Legislation

Public Records Act 1958

Changes to legislation:

Public Records Act 1958 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 22 December 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Changes and effects yet to be applied by the editorial team are only applicable when viewing the latest version or prospective version of legislation. They are therefore not accessible when viewing legislation as at a specific point in time. To view the ‘Changes to Legislation’ information for this provision return to the latest version view using the options provided in the ‘What Version’ box above.

  1. Introductory Text

  2. 1. General responsibility of the Lord Chancellor for public records.

  3. 2. The Public Record Office.

  4. 3. Selection and preservation of public records.

  5. 4. Place of deposit of public records.

  6. 5. Access to public records.

  7. 6. Destruction of public records in Public Record Office or other place of deposit.

  8. 7. Records for which Master of the Rolls remains responsible.

  9. 8. Court records.

  10. 9. Legal validity of public records and authenticated copies.

  11. 10. Interpretation.

  12. 11. Public Record Office Acts to cease to have effect.

  13. 12. Northern Ireland.

  14. 13. Short title, repeals and commencement.

  15. SCHEDULES

    1. FIRST SCHEDULE

      Definition of Public Records

      1. 1.The provisions of this Schedule shall have effect for determining...

      2. Departmental records

        1. 2.(1) Subject to the provisions of this paragraph, administrative and...

        2. 3.(1) Without prejudice to the generality of sub-paragraph (1) of...

        3. 3A.(1) Her Majesty may by Order in Council amend the...

      3. Records of courts and tribunals

        1. 4.(1) Subject to the provisions of this paragraph, records of...

      4. Records of the Chancery of England

        1. 5.The records of the Chancery of England , other than...

      5. Records in Public Record Office

        1. 6.Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions of this Schedule, public...

      6. Power to add further categories of records and to determine cases of doubt

        1. 7.(1) Without prejudice to the Lord Chancellor’s power of making...

      7. Interpretation

        1. 8.It is hereby declared that any description of government department,...

    2. SECOND SCHEDULE

      Enactments prohibiting disclosure of information obtained from the public

    3. THIRD SCHEDULE

    4. FOURTH SCHEDULE

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Point in Time: This becomes available after navigating to view revised legislation as it stood at a certain point in time via Advanced Features > Show Timeline of Changes or via a point in time advanced search.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources