The 100 year rule and Census (General)

by slowhands , proud of his ancient Dean Forest roots, Thursday, April 23, 2009, 06:56 (5766 days ago) @ fredb

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090127/text/90127w0044.htm

( from Hansard the official record of Parliamentary business)

27 Jan 2009 : Column 468W

Census
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will re-assess the merits of the 100-year rule prohibiting publication of census details in the light of the early release of the 1911 census information. [249612]

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Dennis Roberts, dated January 2009:

The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your question asking whether the merits of the 100 year rule will be re-assessed. I am replying in her absence. (249612)

There are no plans to change the policy of closure of census records. Censuses from 1921 onwards were taken under the authority of the Census Act 1920 and are retained in the custody of the National Statistician with the approval of the Lord Chancellor by virtue of Section 3(4) of the Public Records Act. The 1921 Census records are scheduled to be released to the public in January 2022.

We know from experience that there are public concerns about the confidentiality of the Census and the uses to which the information is put. At the time of a Census explicit assurances are given about the confidentiality of information supplied. If the period of closure for census records were changed now, we would be concerned that this would impact negatively on the public’s response. Censuses are conducted for statistical purposes and the later use of them by genealogists is a secondary benefit that should never be allowed to jeopardise the coverage and quality of future Censuses.

This policy has recently been re-stated in the 2011 Census White Paper which was published on 11 December 2008.

Please note that the 1911 Census will not be fully open to the public until January 2012. On 13 January the National Archives began releasing a set of information from the 1911 Census. This does not include sensitive personal information, which is currently withheld.

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