{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/public-records-act-1958",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/public-records-act-1958.json",
  "id": "ukpga/Eliz2/6-7/51",
  "title": "Public Records Act 1958",
  "short_title": "Public Records Act 1958",
  "long_title": "An Act to make new provision with respect to public records and the Public Record Office, and for connected purposes.",
  "citation": "6 & 7 Eliz. 2 c. 51",
  "type": "ukpga",
  "year": "Eliz2/6-7",
  "number": "51",
  "version": "current",
  "date": "1958-07-23",
  "revised": true,
  "valid_from": "2026-09-30",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "unapplied_effects": 8,
  "provisions": [
    {
      "path": "introduction",
      "kind": "introduction",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Introductory text",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/public-records-act-1958/introduction",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/1",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "1",
      "heading": "General responsibility of the Secretary of State for public records.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/public-records-act-1958/section-1",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/2",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "2",
      "heading": "The Public Record Office.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/public-records-act-1958/section-2",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/3",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "3",
      "heading": "Selection and preservation of public records.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/public-records-act-1958/section-3",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/4",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "4",
      "heading": "Place of deposit of public records.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/public-records-act-1958/section-4",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/5",
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      "number": "5",
      "heading": "Access to public records.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/public-records-act-1958/section-5",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/6",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "6",
      "heading": "Destruction of public records in Public Record Office or other place of deposit.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/public-records-act-1958/section-6",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/7",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "7",
      "heading": "Records for which Master of the Rolls remains responsible.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/public-records-act-1958/section-7",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/8",
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      "number": "8",
      "heading": "Court records.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/public-records-act-1958/section-8",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/9",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "9",
      "heading": "Legal validity of public records and authenticated copies.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/public-records-act-1958/section-9",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/10",
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      "heading": "Interpretation.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/public-records-act-1958/section-10",
      "extent": null,
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      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/11",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "11",
      "heading": "Public Record Office Acts to cease to have effect.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/public-records-act-1958/section-11",
      "extent": null,
      "status": "repealed",
      "parent": null
    },
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      "path": "section/12",
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      "number": "12",
      "heading": "Northern Ireland.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/public-records-act-1958/section-12",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/13",
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      "number": "13",
      "heading": "Short title, repeals and commencement.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/public-records-act-1958/section-13",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "schedule/FIRST",
      "kind": "schedule",
      "number": "FIRST",
      "heading": "Definition of Public Records",
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      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "schedule/FIRST/paragraph/1",
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      "path": "schedule/FIRST/crossheading/departmental-records",
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      "status": null,
      "parent": "schedule/FIRST"
    },
    {
      "path": "schedule/FIRST/paragraph/2",
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    },
    {
      "path": "schedule/FIRST/paragraph/3",
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    {
      "path": "schedule/FIRST/paragraph/3A",
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    {
      "path": "schedule/FIRST/crossheading/records-of-courts-and-tribunals",
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    },
    {
      "path": "schedule/FIRST/paragraph/4",
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    },
    {
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      "path": "schedule/FIRST/crossheading/records-in-public-record-office",
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      "path": "schedule/FIRST/paragraph/6",
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    {
      "path": "schedule/FIRST/crossheading/power-to-add-further-categories-of-records-and-to-determine-cases-of-doubt",
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  "outstanding_effects": [
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      "type": "entry repealed",
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      "affecting": "ukpga/1998/38",
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      "affecting_provisions": "Sch. 18 Pt. 2"
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      "affecting": "ukpga/2000/14",
      "affecting_title": "Care Standards",
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    {
      "type": "words inserted",
      "affected_provisions": "Sch. 1 para. 3 Table Pt. 2",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2021/10",
      "affecting_title": "Trade Act 2021",
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    },
    {
      "type": "words inserted",
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      "affecting": "ukpga/2025/28",
      "affecting_title": "Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Act 2025",
      "affecting_provisions": "Sch. 2 para. 20"
    }
  ],
  "made_under": [],
  "changes_made_to": 212,
  "changes_made_to_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/public-records-act-1958/changes.json",
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  "changes_made_by_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/public-records-act-1958/changes/by-it.json",
  "instruments_made_under": 0,
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  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/6-7/51",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T11:12:46.811020+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}