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

[Jagilkat]

Though I havent posted on here before, not really had any reason to. I do log on regularly and have a read.
I was sent this link by the Isle of Wight rootsweb today and it is genuine.
There are under 5.000 signatures on the petition so please pass it on. It would be wonderful to have the 1911,1921 and 1931 census's released. Well it would certainly help me with my lot from Northumberland.


http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/CensusInfoFreed/

[Russell]

Well I for one will NOT be supporting the petition much as I would love to get my hands on some of the information.

WHY NOT
I know the tribulations some of my family went through in the 1920's & 30's financially, socially, and at work so my 94 year old mother is not yet ready for some of her family secrets to be brought out into the open.
We might find them acceptable strategies now but they weren't back then.
Let's leave that skeleton cupboard closed for the recognised, agreed time.

Russell

[DavidWW]

Well I for one will NOT be supporting the petition much as I would love to get my hands on some of the information.

WHY NOT
I know the tribulations some of my family went through in the 1920's & 30's financially, socially, and at work so my 94 year old mother is not yet ready for some of her family secrets to be brought out into the open.
We might find them acceptable strategies now but they weren't back then.
Let's leave that skeleton cupboard closed for the recognised, agreed time.

Russell

The recent announcement of the early release of the 1911 census for England & Wales was partly at least due to the Freedom of Information Act.

The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act, however, contains specific provisions regarding the act not applying to closed censuses, so that the full 100 year closure periods should be maintained.

David

[sporran]

Hello all,


I agree with Russell on this, but not for the same reasons. I would really like to find out where my ancestors lived, but at the times of those censuses promises were made that there would be closure for 100 years. However convenient for us otherwise, promises should be kept.


Regards,

John

[JustJean]

I guess it all comes down to which government has brainwashed you. I cant imagine not having full access to the 1910, 1920, and 1930 census digital images from the US of A. Not alot of angst about it....we all seem to be weathering it quite well matter of fact.

Best wishes
Jean

[emanday]

Much as I would love to have access to the later censuses, us and our ancestors were made a promise.

Let's not petition any government to break a promise it made about our privacy. If they were to agree, tt would set a precedent we might all live to regret.

[Jagilkat]

The BMD index is in the public domain. When you order any certificate it gives you information regarding where the person was living at that time.
As for family skeletons I have uncovered plenty of those via BMD certificates. Anyway each to their own, I never dreamt my posting would bring forth such a negative response. I find it hard to believe that IF it were to happen none of you would use the facility.

[DavidWW]

I guess it all comes down to which government has brainwashed you. I cant imagine not having full access to the 1910, 1920, and 1930 census digital images from the US of A. Not alot of angst about it....we all seem to be weathering it quite well matter of fact.

Best wishes
Jean

In no way is this a question of "brainwashing"

For around a century of more, the clear commitment has been made to the population of the UK that information provided in a census return would be held completely confidential for 100 years, thereby, hopefully, encouraging folk to complete their census schedule, and ensure that government, national, and local, has the best possible and most accurate information on which to plan for the provision of all their various services.

There is already a precedent in the UK, particularly Scotland, where, in complete and utter defiance of the provision of the 1707 Act of Union as regards the unequal application of taxes between England and Scotland ( but that's a different matter !), - the imposition of the infamous "Poll Tax" aka the Community Charge, - is known to have led to major distortions in the 1991 census.

Any earlier release than the 100 years originally promised in legislation for currently closed censuses, can only further compomise the potential accuracy of the 2011 census, given the understandable and increasing lack of trust of the UK population in promises regarding the confidentiality of the whole census process in the UK.

Regardless of one's views on the legitimacy or otherwise of national censuses, one has to accept that government, national and local, needs accurate data for the purposes of planning service delivery and other aspects including strategic national plans, e.g. transport (however much one might believe that such strategic national plans haven't been a feature of UK government for several decades !)

If the original legislation decided on a confidentiality period of 100 years, then who are we to overturn this now?

Other countries, when considering the selfsame subject may well have decided on a different confidentiality period, but that's up to them, and shouldn't have any bearing on the very clear promises given to UK citizens in 1911, 1921, and 1931 ........

over ................

David

[JustJean]

I wasn't suggesting anyone try and overturn anything. Just making a comparison that it is possible to live in a society where the census is not held in privacy for 100 years.

Besides....as was earlier pointed out....the vital records are fully accessible pretty much wherever we go.

Best wishes
Jean

[emanday]

The BMD index is in the public domain. When you order any certificate it gives you information regarding where the person was living at that time.
As for family skeletons I have uncovered plenty of those via BMD certificates. Anyway each to their own, I never dreamt my posting would bring forth such a negative response. I find it hard to believe that IF it were to happen none of you would use the facility.

The BMD indexes do not provide anything like the information that will be available when these later census images are released.

As David has pointed out, the later ones gathered the kind of information that was used in planning, both at government and local level. The people who gave that information did so with the understanding that it would not become public within their lifetime.

That was the UK government's promise and I expect them to stand by it.