Petition to PM for census to be released after 70 years.

[momat]

A promise is a promise so 100 years it should stay ,but
what other type of information did they gather that was different to previous Censi /Censues ? unlike modern Census data that asks about Ethnic Origins /Income /Religion etc ;
I think future Genealogists will have it very easy with all the data being provided by todays Census papers.
We will have no secrets at all unless we tell little white lies.

[trish1]

Apart from my age I can think of nothing on the census that I would be bothered about folks finding. Folks can easily find information about me from so many sources, I treat any discussion about privacy from government or large organisations somewhat as a joke. I think "privacy" is used often to hide the inefficiencies of government agencies.

Keeping a promise - is something politicians are wonderful at avoiding, so I can't imagine that will have anything to do with when or where census data is released. Our current prime Minister "promised" there would never be a goods and service tax in Australia. but he changed his mind.

The standard 30 years before release of historical documents sounds good to me.

Trish

[ninatoo]

Hmmm...I am also dubious about government promises...I come from australia too tTrish and well recall the GST "promise". It was a BIG election swayer.

I am thinking that perhaps a fair solution would be that the information ought to be released IF the people concerned are deceased already, OR if you can obtain written permission from the living to obtain the records (like the War records for instance).

This from ME, who would give anything to be able to check the 1911, 1921 and 1931 censuses at the moment!

Nina

[trotterbeck]

Hi

,but
what other type of information did they gather that was different to previous Censi /Censues ? unlike modern Census data that asks about Ethnic Origins /Income /Religion etc ;
I think future Genealogists will have it very easy with all the data being provided by todays Census papers.

The last census will be absolutely useless for genealogists, as it didn't ask for place of birth, neither country/county or town/community, although ethnic origin was in there.

Just imagine someone looking for an ancestor knowing they were of a particular ethnic grouping but not knowing which continent they were born in.

[momat]

Surely in this era of multicultural Countries all Census should ask where one is born.
New Zealand Census even ask all Maori what Iwi (Tribe ) they belong to among other things.
We are also asked where we were born I. E. are you European ?
I always state Scotland

[Davie]

I like the bits on the link
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/CensusInfoFreed/

“Your e-mail will not be published”
“Your address will not be published”

Is that a promise?

That aside, I would be happy to have the later census returns available.
As I am sure most of us would.
You just need to look at the response SP got in 2001.
And I am sure that 99% of us that spent a few quid only wanted to find our family on them.
I have never came across any info on a return that I would be worried about anyone else viewing.
Have any of our members?
Davie

[sporran]

Hello all,


although I am not part of TS Admin, welcome to Jagilkat, and sorry that your first post did not bring forth the desired response.

Although I would have no problem with immediate disclosure on my returns, I can think of a few examples that could embarrass. People who concealed the truth in BMD registrations and to the church might have felt more relaxed in disclosing information to an anonymous government body that promised not to reveal information until long after they were dead.

I believe David knows of entries that clearly show a bigamist with 2 families. Other examples that have probably happened are:
someone finding out now that his much older sister was really his mother;
and a man finding out that in 1931 his father was in prison and his mother had a lodger - put 2 and 2 together. These could all involve people still alive.

As for the USA working with disclosure after 70 years, that is fine if you know that when you fill out the census return. It is the breaking of a promise that is the issue. How would anyone feel if the government or medical profession decided that 30 years (or whatever) was long enough before revealing everyone's medical records? I hasten to add that this is not being considered.


Regards,

John

[emanday]

It is the breaking of a promise that is the issue.

Precisely!

[Jagilkat]

Funny you should mention Bigamy, I found out not through any census returns that my Grandfather was a bigamist AND told my Mum then 76 that her father had never legally been married to her Mum and he ran off with the family maid as he had her pregnant and married her too. Was my Mum put out? NO, she just said well these things happen all the time I suppose. My Grandfather is now known as Dirty Bertie not only in the UK but in New Zealand and Australia where extended family are.
Gives a bit of spice to the family history, if anyone choses to judge me on my familys past then it is their problem. The 1931 census would tell me if Dirty Bertie married anyone else, now wouldnt that be interesting!!!
Is it of interest to anyone else? I doubt it very much, I have too much to do with my own family research for me to be bothered about what others got up to and I assume its the same for everyone else.

What a storm in a tea cup. I wish you all success in your research but I wont be bothering this site again. Such a shame.

[HeatherH]

Hello all,
Personally I agree a promise was made and should be kept. While it may not bother us to have people know our ages the info on a census can be used for greater harm than 50 pink flamingos on your lawn.Identy theft is rampent .
In the lastest issue of Ancestors (Jan 2007) they are pleased to announce the release of a new data base online for immigrants arriving in the london area between 1914 and 1991 . The info will include Full name ,date of birth ,date of arrival ,marital status , details of any children , addresses , employment history and if applicable date of naturalization .Most will also have a shou8lder up piccie of the person .Its a credit card scammers paradice .
As for the early release of the 1911 census I had read in another publication that the info could be requested but could still be turned down based on any number of rules they have set in place .
My hobby is just that . A very pleasant and at time frustrating passtime .I'm in no rush , the info isn't going anywhere and there are so many other interesting bits and pieces to ferret out .If the early release of the 1911, 1921 and 1931 census put even one of our seniors at risk then the wait will be well worth it .
HeatherH