ABSTRACT
Political engagement, the enactment of legal restrictions and recognition of the value of archives and records in law and regulations are all important in formation of a distinct profession. Government inquiries and legislation has significant influence on archival developments in the England in the nineteenth and twentieth century's. A series of government Commissions and Reports from 1800 to 2003 investigated and made recommendations on various aspects of archival activity and influenced its development. Discussions about new national archives and records legislation for England, Wales and the UK took place in 2003 and the complex legislative framework was a matter considered by the Archives Task Force, set up in 2002. Separate consideration was given to new legislation for Scotland, which is outside the scope. The focus of the early nineteenth century legislators on the records of central government and the courts largely ignored the development of archives services in the localities and their acquisition of manuscripts and archives.
