1911 Census

[Lindad]

A few months ago, there was some talk about the possibility of the 1911 census being released early... or at least we family tree climbers were being encouraged to lobby our MPs for early release.

Does anyone know if there is any further news about this?

[Guy Etchells]

Although there is no legitimate reason for witholding the 1911 census an early release has been ruled out.
Cheers
Guy

[Guy Etchells]

Well I am afraid those MPs are ignorant to the facts, the first mention of 100 years was in 1991. The actual assurances given on the various census were –

1911
"The contents of the Schedule will be treated as strictly confidential".

The following also appeared on the reverse of the Schedule:

"The contents of the Schedule will be treated as confidential. Strict care will be taken that no information is disclosed with regard to individual persons. The returns are not to be used for proof of age, as in connection with Old Age Pensions, or for any other purpose than the preparation of Statistical Tables".

1921
"STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL"

1931
No returns survive.

1941
No Census taken.

1951
"The contents of the schedule are strictly confidential".

The following also appeared on the reverse of the schedule:
"STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL"

1961
"The contents of the schedule are strictly confidential".
The following also appeared on a separate sheet headed NOTES and EXAMPLES:
"CONFIDENTIALITY--No information about any individual person, family or dwelling, will be given to anyone not employed on the Census".

1971
"The information you give on the form will be treated as CONFIDENTIAL and used only for compiling statistics. No information about named individuals will be passed to any other Government Department or any other authority or person. If anyone in the census organisation improperly discloses information you provide, he will be liable to prosecution. Similarly you must not disclose information which anyone (for example, a visitor or boarder) gives you to enable you to complete the form".

1981
"Your replies will be treated in STRICT CONFIDENCE. They will be used to produce statistics but your name and address will not be fed into the census computer. After the census, the forms will be locked away for 100 years before they are passed to the Public Record Office".

1991
"Your answers will be treated in strict confidence and used only to produce statistics. Names and addresses will not be put into the computer; only the postcode will be entered. The forms will be kept securely within my office and treated as confidential for 100 years.

Anyone using or disclosing Census information improperly will be liable to prosecution. For example, it would be improper for you to pass on to someone else information which you has been given in confidence by a visitor to enable you to complete the Census form".

It should also be pointed out that in this electronic era the census is no longer a cost effective way of obtaining population particulars and it is doubtful whether there will be another census after 2011 if that census even takes place.
Cheers
Guy

[Lindad]

Oh well... that's that then. Shame! As a general rule, I hadn't noticed that Governments were that concerned about fulfuling the promises of previous Governments...!