In the run up to the Scottish Parliament elections on 7th May 2026, SCA has issued a series of ‘asks’ for the next Scottish Government.
If you would like to suggest further asks then email the SCA Director John Pelan at j.pelan@scottisharchives.org.uk
- Commit to a National Strategy for Archives and Records, Backed by Sustainable Investment
Work with the sector to develop and deliver a National Strategy for Archives and Records, supported by long‑term funding by:
- Sustained investment in staffing, storage, digital preservation, and compliance with statutory duties under the Public Records (Scotland) Act 2011.
- Expanding national support for modern records management practices, including lifecycle governance, retention scheduling, metadata standards, and continuity planning.
- Delivering parity of funding for the archives and records sector with museums, galleries and libraries, enabling SCA to support sector development and grant‑giving.
- Recognising archives and records as essential to democracy, public accountability, communities, culture and learning.
- Invest in Scotland’s National Digital Preservation Infrastructure
Treat digital recordkeeping and preservation as critical national infrastructure by:
- Funding national digital preservation solutions for local authorities.
- Ensuring long‑term protection of digital records relating to rights, care, identity and accountability.
- Prioritising investment in records management systems to ensure trustworthy, compliant, and interoperable recordkeeping across public bodies
- Supporting archives and records’ vital role in providing evidence for future Public Inquiries
- Ensuring digital public records remain secure, authentic and accessible.
- Strengthen and Future‑Proof the Archives and Records Workforce
Address sector‑wide skills shortages and improve equity in career pathways by:
- Securing representation for the archives sector on the Scottish Government Culture Fair Work Taskforce
- Developing accessible new routes into the profession, including apprenticeships