Preservation of Documents (Historical Institutions) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

Meaning of “relevant information”

3.—(1) Information is relevant information if it falls within subsection (2), (3) or (4).

(2) Information falls within this subsection if it is information about the operation of a relevant institution in the relevant period including information relating to—

(a) the occupancy of the institution,

(b) the admission, treatment, care or discharge of residents,

(c) the management of staff or volunteers,

(d) the names and addresses of staff or volunteers,

(e) financial documents, annual accounts or statements of account,

(f) any inspection of the institution, or

(g) such other matters as may be prescribed.

(3) Information falls within this subsection if it is information about a resident of a relevant institution in the relevant period including information relating to—

(a) the resident’s admission to the institution,

(b) the resident’s departure from the institution,

(c) travel undertaken by the resident while resident in or on departure from the institution,

(d) the treatment or care of the resident in the institution,

(e) any letter, diary entry, or note created by or sent to the resident in the institution,

(f) work undertaken by the resident in the institution,

(g) the birth, death or burial of the resident,

(h) the birth, death or burial of the resident’s child,

(i) the removal, retention, storage, use or disposal of human tissue from deceased persons,

(j) the resident’s parents or relatives, or

(k) such other matters as may be prescribed.

(4) Information falls within this subsection if it is information about accommodation or care provided to a child who was born to a resident of a relevant institution in the relevant period and the information relates to—

(a) the period in which the mother remained a resident,

(b) if the mother ceased to be a resident, any subsequent period in which the mother and child were separated, or

(c) such other circumstances as may be prescribed.

(5) For the purposes of subsection (4)(b), a mother and child were separated if the child was provided with care and accommodation by a person other than the mother, but this is subject to such exceptions as may be prescribed.