Dear All
I received a number of requests to summarise responses to my query regarding
the DPA and researcher agreements.
The responses I received were broadly similiar so, with Susan Healy's
permission, I am copying the draft agreement drawn up by the Society of
Archivists working party as a representative example. Please note that this
is not a final draft, but merely a proposal, the context being that a signed
undertaking is seen as one way of making the granting of 3rd party access to
personal data covered by the Act fair (DPP1):
RESEARCHER UNDERTAKING CONCERNING ACCESS TO ARCHIVES THAT WOULD OTHERWISE
BE CLOSED
I <name> of <address> request permission to consult <archives reference>
and agree to make use of any personal data contained therein in compliance
with the Data Protection Act 1998. My research will not be used to support
measures or decisions with respect to particular individuals and will not
cause or be likely to cause substantial damage or substantial distress to
any person who is the subject of those data while he or she is alive or
likely to be alive (assuming a life span of 100 years).
I shall not make the results of my research available in a form that
identifies any data subject without the consent in writing of the data
subject or the data controller.
I understand that I shall become responsible for compliance with the Data
Protection Act 1998 in relation to any processing by me of personal data
obtained from the above records
Signed Date
The original signed undertaking should be retained by the archives
repository and a copy should be provide to the researcher.
Regards
Rich
____________________________
Richard Schofield
The Rothschild Archive
New Court
St Swithin's Lane
London EC4P 4DU
tel. +44 (0)20 7280 5808
fax +44 (0)20 7280 5657
http://www.rothschildarchive.org
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