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The listserv having been rather quiet on the subject of both last Friday's announcements, of the merger of the HMC and the PRO to form the National Archives, and that DCMS has asked Lord Evans to chair an Archives Taskforce, I would like to welcome both moves on behalf of the National Council on Archives. We rarely get Ministerial announcements about archives, and I cannot remember one that is likely to have such a major impact on the archival landscape. The HMC/PRO merger comes about as the result of a quinquennial review of the HMC (all Government bodies undergo these reviews to confirm the continuing need for their existence, and their efficiency and effectiveness) in 2001. The review concluded that although the functions of the HMC needed to continue, their performance by an independent organisation was not the most efficient or effective way of providing them. Various options were considered for the future of the functions, but the option chosen, of amalgamation with the PRO into a new organisation, will have a number of significant advantages. Moreover, I understand that the new organisation will have the combined budget of the two predecessor bodies, ensuring that the efficiency savings arising from the move accrue to the archives world and not to the Treasury. The creation of the National Archives will have the following advantages:- 1. Although the merger can be brought about in practice by ministerial directive, I believe there will need to be legislation to formally end the legal status of the HMC. This provides a further imperative for the proposed National Archives Bill, and makes it more likely that Parliamentary time will be found for this Bill. 2. There will be a single body with clear responsibility for national archival policy across the public and private sectors, for the first time. This surely means that archives will have a stronger voice in Government. The National Archives will have a clearer remit to work with and actively support other public sector archives than the PRO has had in the past. The HMC and PRO inspection regimes will be brought together and made more effective (the National Archives Bill, when it comes, should also give them more teeth). The nature of the relationship between the National Archives and Resource: the Council for Museums, Archives & Libraries has yet to emerge, but I am sure there is commitment on both sides to arrive at a clear division of responsibility. The Archives Taskforce will give them experience of working together, and help to ensure that there is a clear common agenda. 3. The desire to ensure the viability of the National Archives Network has been a key driver behind the decision to give the new body the full budget of its predecessors. The efficiency savings from combining the two bodies could and should go a long way towards making the Network sustainable. It will also be possible to ensure that the information resource contained in the National Register of Archives is fully and effectively integrated into the developing National Network. In this context, it is particularly good news that DCMS will fund the replacement of the HMC computer system in the near future. The announcement in the House of Lords on Friday included reference to the fact that the Minister had asked Lord Evans (Chairman, Resource) to chair an Archives Task Force 'to examine the general state of archives in the UK'. Lord Evans has previously chaired similar studies of the future of library and museum services, which resulted in the reports New Library - the People's Network and Renaissance in the Regions. The first has levered £270m into UK libraries and the second proposes investment of up to £500m in UK museums; we shall find out as the detail of the comprehensive spending review unfolds how successful it has been! The Archives Task Force is intended to map out the future strategic role of archive services in the UK, and look at the funding needs of these services if they are to meet these objectives. It is likely that the final report of the Task Force (due next summer) will call for large-scale investment in archives. If it has the impact of the parallel documents for libraries and museums, it too has the potential to transform the landscape we are operating in for the better. Rarely can there have been a more momentous day for archives in the UK. I for one have written to congratulate the minister on making such a positive announcement for the profession, and I would encourage anyone else who shares my view to do so too; we all know how welcome a little praise is from our user community! Nick Kingsley Chairman, National Council on Archives