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The Scottish Government and the National Archives of Scotland (NAS) will make available today around 4,000 Government files which would previously have remained closed for 30 years.

September 28 is International Right to Know Day and the Scottish Government and NAS are marking the day by beginning the process of releasing files up to 15 years earlier than had previously been the case. On Monday around 4,000 files from the period 1979 to 1983 will be made available for public viewing with further tranches being released in the new year.

Minister for Parliamentary Business Bruce Crawford will be at NAS to open a new exhibition to mark the event. Entitled 'An Open Secret', the exhibition looks at the history of government attitudes to record and information closures from the 15th century to the present day.

Speaking ahead of the event, Mr Crawford said:

"The Scottish Government is committed to the principles that underpin Freedom of Information legislation. Principles of openness and transparency are essential parts of open democratic government and responsive public services.

"It was in that spirit that I announced in June that the Scottish Government would open files which would previously have remained closed for 30 years, available to the public after 15. It is fitting that the first tranche of files are being made available on International Right to Know Day.

"The opening of these files has the potential to give us all a greater insight into the information gathering and decision making process within Government. I am sure there will be much in these files to interest historians but also the wider public.

"The Scottish Government will continue to move in the direction of greater open-ness and transparency."

George MacKenzie, Keeper of the Records of Scotland, said:

"I welcome this new release of government information. The first tranche adds significantly to the range of historical information available to researchers."

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