MCI - Ministry of Communication and Information of the Republic of Singapore

03/01/2023 | News release | Distributed by Public on 03/01/2023 03:38

MCI Response to PQ on Number of Requests to View Government Records Yet to be Declassified Since 2010

Parliament Sitting on 1 March 2023

QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

7. Mr Leong Mun Wai: To ask the Minister for Communications and Information in each year since 2010 (a) how many requests have been received to view Government records that have yet to be declassified; and (b) how many of such requests have been approved.

Answer:

1. As the custodian of government records of national or historical significance, the National Archives of Singapore (NAS) works with government agencies to facilitate access to government records that have been transferred to the NAS.

2. Since 2016, government agencies have reviewed more than 5,000 government records that were not declassified in response to 2,130 requests by members of the public. 83% of these records have been approved for access. In total, some 68,000 file records have been declassified and are available for access.