Request for opening of closed file HO 144/22520
Dear Home Office,
The file HO 144/22520, relating to the Gretna (or Quintinshill) rail disaster of 1915, has been closed for 100 years until 1 January 2017.
Despite the opening in recent years at the Scottish National Archives of previously classified documents concerning the disaster – the worst in the history of Britain's railways – HO 144/22520, retained at The National Archives in Kew, remains unavailable for public inspection, singularly classified under the 100-year rule.
There is considerable, and understandable, public interest across the UK, and especially within Scotland, in this accident, its causes and aftermath – interest which has naturally intensified as the 100th anniversary in 2015 approaches.
This interest clearly is not served by the continuing retention of HO 144/22520 as a 'closed' document and, in my submission, It is hard to see why this remains the case.
An event which occurred during the First World War can surely no longer pose any kind of threat to national security a century on, even if it was deemed to do so at the time.
None of the individuals involved, in any way, in the accident are alive today. Release of the 'closed' documentation cannot possibly threaten their reputation, status or safety today.
However, in my view their families – both those of the many victims of the tragedy and also those of the two signalmen held wholly responsible for it – deserve to learn the full details of what happened, both during and after the event.
I feel that this is a right which should be extended to the British public as a whole in view of the unparalleled severity of the five-train collision and its effect on the nation.
The file's official release date is just five years away. I submit that opening it now for public inspection will have no material adverse affect on the nation or any living person.
This was a major historical event. It is surely time the Government provided its citizens with all the relevant facts.
Yours faithfully,
Adrian Searle
Dear Mr Searle,
Thank you for your email below. I have been advised that as the file you
refer to is held by The National Archive, (TNA) you should submit a
freedom of information request to them .
The 100 year closure you refer to was set many years ago when the file
was initially transferred, files with this status are reviewed as and when
requests to see them are made to TNA..
Regards
Reshma Patel
Dear Home Office,
The file HO 144/22520, relating to the Gretna (or Quintinshill)
rail disaster of 1915, has been closed for 100 years until 1
January 2017.
Despite the opening in recent years at the Scottish National
Archives of previously classified documents concerning the disaster
– the worst in the history of Britain's railways – HO 144/22520,
retained at The National Archives in Kew, remains unavailable for
public inspection, singularly classified under the 100-year rule.
There is considerable, and understandable, public interest across
the UK, and especially within Scotland, in this accident, its
causes and aftermath – interest which has naturally intensified as
the 100th anniversary in 2015 approaches.
This interest clearly is not served by the continuing retention of
HO 144/22520 as a 'closed' document and, in my submission, It is
hard to see why this remains the case.
An event which occurred during the First World War can surely no
longer pose any kind of threat to national security a century on,
even if it was deemed to do so at the time.
None of the individuals involved, in any way, in the accident are
alive today. Release of the 'closed' documentation cannot possibly
threaten their reputation, status or safety today.
However, in my view their families – both those of the many victims
of the tragedy and also those of the two signalmen held wholly
responsible for it – deserve to learn the full details of what
happened, both during and after the event.
I feel that this is a right which should be extended to the British
public as a whole in view of the unparalleled severity of the
five-train collision and its effect on the nation.
The file's official release date is just five years away. I submit
that opening it now for public inspection will have no material
adverse affect on the nation or any living person.
This was a major historical event. It is surely time the Government
provided its citizens with all the relevant facts.
Yours faithfully,
Adrian Searle
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