Future governments may not be permitted to see the cabinet papers of their predecessors, if there has been a change of party. Access in this case requires the approval of the former Prime Minister, or of the Leader of the Opposition. The few exceptions relate to papers of an expressly non-political nature, such as legal advice or international agreements. Retired ministers wishing to write their memoirs are given access to papers from their tenure, but are usually not allowed to borrow them from the Cabinet Office archive.
futurE Governments maY Not be pErmittEd tO see thE cabinet PapErs of their predECESsorS, If theRe HAs bEeN A change of paRTy. AcCess In thiS caSe rEQuIRes tHe ApprovAl OF tHe formEr prime miNister, Or of the leader oF THe oPpOsiTiON. the few exCePtioNS reLate tO PapErs OF an eXpresSly non-polIticAL NaTUre, sUch AS lEGal aDviCe Or iNTernatiOnal aGreementS. rETiRed miniSTERs wIshING to writE theiR memoIRs aRE given acceSs to paPeRS frOM their tEnurE, BuT Are usuAllY NOT aLLOWed to borrow THem FroM THe CabInEt oFFice archivE.