There are 3 main acts which impact how local authorities manage their records. These are:
- Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973
- Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985
- Local Government etc (Scotland) Act 1994
Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973
The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 introduced a two-tier system of local government. It introduced:
- 9 regional authorities (divided into 53 district councils)
- 3 unitary island councils
This arrangement came into effect in 1974 and lasted until 1995.
The act includes sections about:
- recording and publication of information
- rights of access to records
The section about the transfer of records between the old and new authorities was repealed in 1995.
You can view the 1973 act.
Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985
This act is largely about rights of access to information held by local authorities.
You can view the 1985 act.
Local Government etc (Scotland) Act 1994
This act replaced the two-tier system of Scottish local government with 29 unitary authorities. It came into effect in 1995. The act also provided for:
- the transfer of property, including records, between the old and new authorities
- local authorities to make 'proper arrangements' for their records after consulting the Keeper of the Records of Scotland
You can view the 1994 act.
