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Publication Scheme

Introduction

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 provides a general right of access to information produced by or lodged with public authorities. It specifically excludes personal information which is held by these authorities which is covered by the Data Protection Act). It does not apply to organisations in the private sector.

There are three main requirements placed on public authorities by the Act:

  • To produce and publish a Publication Scheme which lists all the classes of information that the authority publishes with details of how to access that information. (February 2003)
  • To respond to any request for information not in the Publication Scheme (January 2005)
  • To comply with the Lord Chancellor's Code of Practice on Records Management

Tyne & Wear Archives Service is a public authority under the terms of the Act. It is a joint authority of the metropolitan councils of Gateshead, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland. Gateshead Council is the lead authority.

Tyne & Wear Archives Service preserves and provides access to historical records of these and other public authorities which are covered by the Freedom of Information Act. In most cases it acts on behalf of these other authorities and their publications will be included in their own schemes.

Tyne & Wear Archives Service also preserves and provides access to historical records on behalf of private bodies and individuals. These are not covered by the Freedom of Information Act and rights of access remain as previously.

Details of our copying charges are appended.

Archive holdings

Archives other than those noted in the finding aids as closed (Access to original, microfilm or other copies of records in the searchroom is free of charge; copies are supplied to individuals on payment of a charge at the current appropriate rate)

Finding aids

Publicly available finding aids (Printed copies accessible free of charge in the searchroom; copies provided at current photocopying charge)
Electronic copies accessible free of charge in the searchroom
Electronic copies accessible on http://www.a2a.pro.gov.uk

User Guides

Printed (available free of charge from Tyne & Wear Archives Service) Internet http://www.tyneandweararchives.org.uk/userguides/

  • 1. Cemeteries & crematoria
  • 2. Parish registers on microfilm
  • 3. Methodist registers
  • 4. Registers: other denominations
  • 5. Shipbuilding, outfitting, registration & repair
  • 6. Maritime trade & navigation
  • 7. Guild records
  • 8. Records of the Jewish community
  • 9. Medicine
  • 10. World War II records
  • 11. Transcripts & indexes
  • 12. Records of the Roman Catholic church
  • 13. Building control
  • 14. Law & order
  • 15. A. Schools: City of Sunderland
  • 15. B. Schools: Gateshead MBC
  • 15. C. Schools: North Tyneside
  • 15. D. Schools: City of Newcastle
  • 15. E. Schools: South Tyneside
  • 16. Trade unions, employers and professional associations
  • 17. Voting records
  • 18. Rate books
  • 19. A. Coal industry
  • 19. B. Collieries
  • 20. World War I records
  • 21. Maps & plans
  • 22. Paupers' records

Other leaflets

Minutes

Policies

Reports

Annual Review of the Archives Service (printed, free from Tyne & Wear Archives Service; internet http://www.thenortheast.com/archives)

Printed & priced publications

Teaching packs

  • Westall's War (pack & CD-Rom £5)
  • All the Bairns were Heroes (£1.50)
  • Chartist Pack (£2.00)
  • Newcastle Quayside Pack (£5.00)

Other

  • Tracing your family history at Tyne & Wear Archives Service (£2.00)
  • Diary of a Doctor (published in partnership with Tyne Bridge Publishing £6.99)
  • Sunderland Builds the Ships (£1.95)
  • Images of England - Newcastle (published in partnership with Tempus Publishing £9.99)
  • Family History Starter Pack (published by Public Record Office £9.99)
  • Gateshead A Journey Through Time (Video published in partnership with Video by Design £12.99)
  • Newcastle A Journey Through Time (Video published in partnership with Video by Design £12.99)
  • History of Newcastle (Video published in partnership with Video by Design £12.99)
  • Out of One Eye, the photography of Jimmy Forsyth (published in partnership with Tyne Bridge Publishing (£11.95)

(prices exclude postage & packing - please contact the Archives Service if you would like to order any of the above by post)

Web sites

General information about the Archives Service
http://www.tyneandweararchives.org.uk/

Teaching resource on World War II
http://westallswar.org.uk

All the above publications except those on the Internet are available from Tyne & Wear Archives Service, Blandford House, Blandford square, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4JA, telephone 0191 2326789, fax 0191 230 2614, e-mail twas@gateshead.gov.uk