Module 3: Text 2

e-TERM reference*

TPC6

Version no.*

1

Version date*

2001-09-20

Contributor*

Cain, Piers

Author/s*

Pope, Jeremy

Title*

Chapter 24: The Right to Information--Information, Public Awareness and Public Records

Print availability

Pope, Jeremy, TI Source Book 2000: Confronting Corruption: the elements of a national integrity system, (Transparency International (TI), Berlin, Germany 2000), 235-246

Electronic availability

http://www.transparency.org/
sourcebook/24.html

Copyright

© Jeremy Pope and Transparency International 2000

Introduction

This text addresses a key theme in the last decade: growing public demand for greater transparency in the context of promoting good governance (the process of government). In practice this means increased public access to records created by or held by the public sector. It places records management in a public policy context and explicitly links it the issues of transparency, accountability and reducing corruption - key issues in many countries. The chapter illustrates why electronic government cannot be treated as a strictly technical issue; it cannot be easily separated from the broader political and societal trends that are challenging established ways of doing government business.

Jeremy Pope, together with Peter Eigen, launched Transparency (TI) in Berlin in 1994. Currently he is the Executive Director of TI's London Office. He is a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand and a UK barrister at law. Prior to founding TI, he was counsel to the Commonwealth Secretary-General and Director of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat in London.

Relevance

This text is also relevant to Module 5.

Concepts*

Accountability
Freedom of Information
Information
Internet
Institutional culture
Libel
Ombudsman
Privacy
Records
Transparency

Cases

-

Module no.*

3

Role

-

Contribution to learning objectives*

Preliminary reading

-

Reading help

The text shows how policy makers see archivists and records managers, rather than how the profession would like to see itself. In this context, records provide a means to an end.

Discussion

The article highlights a growing global demand for governments to demonstrate greater accountability and transparency. This means access to records that in the past would have remained confidential for probably decades until released by the National Archives are increasingly available to the public while they are still currently used by their originators. Governments are looking to the Internet to satisfy the demand for greater transparency.

How can an effective programme for managing electronic records contribute to supporting greater accountability and transparency in government?

What are the implications of meeting this demand for the management of electronic records?

How should responsibility be allocated between stakeholders such as the national archives, the originating departments, the central computing bureau, the data protection commission, the ombudsman and others?

Consider issues such as the custody, description and arrangement, access, the institutional culture of the public service and the role of the national archives. What should be done for the sections of the public who do not have ready access to the Internet?

Do you think the indicators outlined on p246 are appropriate for electronic records? If not, what would you propose?

Records management is briefly discussed at the end of the chapter (pp 245-6). This is how a policy maker sees records management. Do you agree with the views expressed? Do you disagree with any of the statements, or would you wish to expand or modify them? With respect to managing electronic records, what policy issues have been overlooked?

Assignment

Imagine you are the National Archivist and the government has just passed a law guaranteeing the access via the Internet to all government records with exception of those relating to national security and defence, commercial secrets, the integrity of the individual or the prevention or prosecution of crime.

Write a short (2 page) briefing paper to your minister outlining the key policy issues and the key areas where guidelines will have to be issued to ministries, departments and agencies.