Information Management in Parliament
The Information and Records Management Service (IRMS) delivers practical policies and solutions to help House of Commons, House of Lords, and bicameral staff manage, secure and re-use their information to meet statutory obligations.
As part of Parliamentary Knowledge & Information (PKI), based in the House of Lords, IRMS helps safeguard parliamentary information and maximise its value as a key asset. Our vision is that information management is embraced and valued by staff and delivers measurable benefits to both Houses.
We develop policies for managing business information and content, providing guidance and training to help the House Administrations apply them in their daily work. Our approach supports Parliament's Information and Digital Strategy which aims to help Parliament enhance the use of its information, data, and digital tools and services.
Information Management Policy
The Information Management Policy (pdf, 180KB) sets the framework for managing parliamentary information, and applies to staff in the administrations of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Parliamentary Digital Service.
Members of Parliament are independent data controllers. Members of the Houses of Commons and Lords and their staff are not subject to this policy, except when holding an official position within a House Administration (e.g. as a Chair of a Committee), but only for the information they create and use in that role.
Parliamentary Protective Marking Scheme (PPMS)
The PPMS helps ensure parliamentary information is secure by guiding users on the appropriate protection level for information of different sensitivities. It applies to all staff, contractors and suppliers who work with parliamentary information.
See the Related Documents section for the Quick Reference Guide.
Authorised Retention Disposal Policy (ARDP)
The ARDP is Parliament's information disposal policy. It provides mandatory instructions on when information should be destroyed or transferred to the Archives of Parliament for permanent preservation.
It covers 21 areas which represent a function of Parliament (or Keyword 1s) and some additional policy statements.
See the Related Documents section for the ARDP and policy statements.
Contact us
If you have a question regarding information management in Parliament, please contact pki@parliament.uk.
Questions about Parliament's Archive Collections should be directed to the Archives' enquiry team using the same contact details above.
Last updated November 2025
There are no items to show.