You report that official government papers continue to disappear from the national archives rather than being released for scrutiny by researchers and the public (26 December). Not withheld because of any genuine issue of national security but because release of the contents would be embarrassing or irritating to those in power. Hopefully, a new Labour government will not just concur with existing policy. It is time to set up an independent commission on how official documents are kept and made available to the public, particularly as our digital age makes it even easier simply to delete awkward material.

Dr Keith Flett

London Socialist Historians Group

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