The 100 year rule and Census (General)
by fredb 
, Monday, April 20, 2009, 00:08 (5770 days ago)
This is just me having a moan. I can't be the only one trying to move forward from 1901 (waiting for Wales 1911) I want to find out where people went. I've trawled through BMD records but often nothing is obvious, and seeing a census from the period before the War would really help me clear up the void that exists. There's nobody alive to ask, and I won't be around when these census become available.
I have no idea why the 100 year rule exists for census, I can legally get copies of birth certificates etc of anyone from 1837 on,almost up to the present day, dates of birth, fathers name and occupation, mothers maiden name, their address, and that's all you can see on any census
Joe Bloggs age 40, day dreamer, born somewhere
Mary bloggs, age 39, day dreamers wife, born somewhere else
And possibly a list of little day dreamers all living at No 10 Dream Street, Happytown.
Just what is so top secret about a census? An illigitimate child is commonplace in all census, so what information is seen as sensitive? When in this day and age it appears some people can access your medical records and bank details without too much trouble. Does anyone know if this rule has ever been challenged? Is it possible to go to a county records office and see more recent census details, I imagine the answer is no or I wouldn't be moaning
I'll stop moaning now, cheers Fred
The 100 year rule and Census
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.
--
Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>