(1) Public records in the National Archives and any other archival repository designated by the Director, shall be available for public inspection after the expiration of a period of thirty years from their creation unless a longer or shorter period is prescribed by regulations made under this Act.

(2) For the purpose of subsection (1) of this section the Council shall obtain the advice of the head of the public office which created the record or its successor in function.

(3) Public records to which members of the public normally have access before transfer into the custody of the Director or to a place of deposit under section 13 of this Act shall continue to be open to public inspection irrespective of their age.