Part III
which are public records for the purposes of the 1958 c. 51.
1923 c. 20 (N.I.).Public Records Act 1958 or the Public Records Act (Northern Ireland) 1923, the code may also include guidance as to—
- (a) the practice to be adopted in relation to the transfer of records under section 3(4) of the Public Records Act 1958 or section 3 of the Public Records Act (Northern Ireland) 1923, and
- (b) the practice of reviewing records before they are transferred under those provisions.
(3) In exercising his functions under this section, the Lord Chancellor shall have regard to the public interest in allowing public access to information held by relevant authorities.
(4) The code may make different provision for different relevant authorities.
(5) Before issuing or revising any code under this section the Lord Chancellor shall consult—
- (a) the Secretary of State,
- (b) the Commissioner, and
- (c) in relation to Northern Ireland, the appropriate Northern Ireland Minister.
(6) The Lord Chancellor shall lay before each House of Parliament any code or revised code made under this section.
(7) In this section “relevant authority” means—
- (a) any public authority, and
- (b) any office or body which is not a public authority but whose administrative and departmental records are public records for the purposes of the Public Records Act 1958 or the Public Records Act (Northern Ireland) 1923.
General functions of Commissioner. 47.—(1) It shall be the duty of the Commissioner to promote the following of good practice by public authorities and, in particular, so to perform his functions under this Act as to promote the observance by public authorities of—
- (a) the requirements of this Act, and
- (b) the provisions of the codes of practice under sections 45 and 46.
(2) The Commissioner shall arrange for the dissemination in such form and manner as he considers appropriate of such information as it may appear to him expedient to give to the public—
- (a) about the operation of this Act,
- (b) about good practice, and
- (c) about other matters within the scope of his functions under this Act,
and may give advice to any person as to any of those matters.
(3) The Commissioner may, with the consent of any public authority, assess whether that authority is following good practice.
(4) The Commissioner may charge such sums as he may with the consent of the Secretary of State determine for any services provided by the Commissioner under this section.
