1 - The Black Vault

30·
Loose Minute
D/Sec(AS) 64/3 /
24 August 2000
OMD14
DRl
'UFOs'-DR CLARKE'S REQUEST FOR ACCESS TO FILES
1. At our meeting earlier this week I said that I would look at Dr Clarke's letters and
try and compile a list of the files I think he wants to see so that we might gauge the
size ()(the request overall. This is attached at Annex. In compiling the list I checked
the details of the Lords PQs mentioned in his last letter to Sec( AS) and looked, at the
background notes drafted at the time. As you will see, I have been unable to complete
the task; I should be grateful ifDRl could check, amt:nd and complete the list.
2. It seems to me that we are already spending a great deal of time on this non
defence·related task. It has taken me something in excess of two hours to compile the .
details in the attachment to this minute. With that and the DR staff time in mind, I
should be grateful to know from OMD 14 how much time would be reasonable to
devote to Dr Clarke's 'shopping lists'. Might a completed Annex (in terms of the
number of parts of files needing to be reviewedlsanitised) be sufficient to make an
initial judgement on whether to proceed further? How many files (based on an
average of l 00 enclosures per file) might constitute a voluminous request? I am
reluctant to devote further resources to this request (recalling files from archives etc)
until we have reached that stage.
3. I look forward to hearing from you both.
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