Reclaiming the Past: Historical Records and Information Scottish Universities Insight Institute Glasgow 19 June 2013 Hugh Hagan Government Records Branch National Records of Scotland Tel: +44 (0)

The Historical Abuse Systemic Review Improving Record Keeping in Scotland Avoid or minimise burdens on authorities Enable improvement rather than prescribe it Make the case for better records management Create a culture that acknowledges and values public records

The Historical Abuse Systemic Review “Former residents …are responding to a basic human need to search for family and to better understand what happened during their childhood. They live in a society of people who grew up in family homes, knowing their siblings, parents and extended family. Their lack of such knowledge can make them feel isolated, so records can help them trace their own family connections and develop a common sense of belonging…” The Historical Abuse Systemic Review

“ Voluntary organisations, religious organisations and local authorities, working in partnership, should … ensure that their children’s residential services records are adequately [managed] to make records readily accessible” The Historical Abuse Systemic Review

Public Records (Scotland) Act 2011 Section 3 (1) Meaning of “public records” In this Act, “public records”, in relation to an authority, means— (a)records created by or on behalf of the authority in carrying out its functions, (b) records created by or on behalf of a contractor in carrying out the authority’s functions … Public Records (Scotland) Act 2011: 2011 asp 12

The Historical Abuse Systemic Review “Records associated with children’s residential services have been, and continue to be, an essential part of ensuring children’s safety and well being. Records have a significant meaning to people who lived in children’s residential establishments – they are essential to their sense of identity” The Historical Abuse Systemic Review