A NEW law aimed at improving public record-keeping in Scotland, particularly for vulnerable members of society such as people in care, comes into force today.

The first new public records legislation for more than 70 years sets out a scheme for improving record-keeping across the Scottish public sector.

The Public Records (Scotland) Act 2011 came about in response to one of the main recommendations of the Historical Abuse Systemic Review, the so-called Shaw Report of 2007.

This found poor record-keeping often created difficulties for former residents of residential schools and children's homes, when they as adults tried to trace their records for identity, family or medical reasons.

Fiona Hyslop, the Scottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, explained the reasoning behind the legislation, saying: "I've been moved to tears by the anguish and grief of some of the most vulnerable people in our society when they discovered records about their earlier lives were incomplete, inaccurate, or simply not there."

Ms Hyslop added: "Records are essential across the public sector.

"They are our collective memory and the basis for individual rights and obligations.

"We can't do our jobs without them but often they tend to be ignored or get low priority until something goes wrong."

The act will affect many public-sector organisations including local authorities, NHS, police and courts, as well as the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament.

They – and other named public authorities in Scotland – are now obliged to prepare and implement a records-management plan, to be agreed with the Keeper of the Records of Scotland, and which should be regularly reviewed.