Has anyone within the group got any links/advice on standard Retention periods?. I understand that there is a brief section on the commissioners site on basic administration/finance, but what about database management? Also a specific area of interest is within social services, how long have they been working with the current standards and does anyone know where the information comes from origionally? (I need to get an idea of how long and under which legislation they 'should' or have been working with). I specifically need to know the standards with manual records such as Diaries and recommendations on the use of e-mails (with the introduction of 'handhelds'forming a new form of diary). Are there any guidelines on retention for this manner already in use ? ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ If you wish to leave this list please send the command leave data-protection to [log in to unmask] All user commands can be found at : - www.jiscmail.ac.uk/user-manual/summary-user-commands.htm all commands go to [log in to unmask] not the list please! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^