1911 census

[jaq]

 Re:Do you want to see the 1911 census early? you can help ,
RootsChat Administration replied:

"The early release of the census is not about money.

There is a hundred year rule on the census to protect the privacy and security of individuals who might still be living, this means that the earliest release of the 1911 census is the first working day of 2012.

If our ancestors who filled in the census in 1911 with theire private and confidential information were told that the records would not be released for a hundred years, then that it how it should remain. "

please post your views.... .the question may of been long for the question box. it should have read"with so many elderly relatives already recalling their family information to aid their siblings, do you agree that the 100 yr rule should remain in force for the 1911 census to be made available? taking into account that we can already access the bmd certs up to 2001 on http://www.1837online.com"
jaq

[trystan]

[size=9]YES[/size]
There is a hundred year rule on the census to protect the privacy and security of individuals who might still be living, this means that the earliest release of the 1911 census is the first working day of 2012.

If our ancestors who filled in the census in 1911 with their private and confidential information were told that the records would NOT be released for a hundred years, then that it how it should remain.

So I would say "YES" - the hundred year rule must stay in force

The 1911 census returns, now in the custody of the National Archives, are currently closed for 100 years by Lord Chancellor's Instrument no. 12 of 1966, on the grounds that the information was supplied in strict confidence. s5(2) of the Public Records Act 1958 provides for the extension of the normal 30-year closure period in such cases. The National Archives is, therefore, currently considering ways of making the 1911 census data generally available to the public at the end of the 100 year closure period.

[Kazza]

This is indeed a can of worms,

BUT

When census returns are made,  the public is told that the personal information they provide is strictly confidential,  and will remain so for 100 years.  They should have no worries about providing correct,  accurate information. (surely the most important thing for us as family historians).  

If we start fiddling with the 100 year rule,  'what difference would a couple of years make' etc.,  the public confidence in the promise will be undermined.  If it is changed once,  what is to stop them changing it again?  Lop off 20 years next time,  maybe reduce it to 50 years.

Elderly relatives do not just tell us what they can remember,  they tell us only what they want us to know.  I recently uncovered a big secret in my family that they feared was a scandal,  it split my family and these divisions were not healed in the lifetimes of the people concerned.

I voted YES in your poll and felt the question was phrased in a very biased way,  so I needed to put the other side of the case.

Regards,

Kazza.  

[jaq]

Mr. Alistair Carmichael 's points regarding the 1911 census.
(MP Orkney and Shetland)


http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200304/cmhansrd/cm040329/debtext/40329-44.htm

[Al]

Whilst I would like to say we should be able to see the 1911 census early, I don't think it would be fair for those people who were told that the information would remain secret for 100 years.

[jaq]

just to point out that  further discussion of this topic  can be found at

 http://www.rootschat.co.uk/forum/index.php?board=145;action=display;threadid=1840

subject do you want to see the 1911 census early?

jaq

[Boongie Pam]

Okay,  I'm going to play devil's advocate here .  

YES, I think it should be opened early.  

Or at least those folk who appear on the census and are still alive should be the only people to object.  

I believe the plan is to release the householder returns.  They should not be released early but the enumeration of address, names, ages, occupations should be on the proviso that everyone (or the majority) of folk over the age of 93 agrees to it.  

The reasoning behind this in my mind is that anyone still alive (with very few exceptions) never put their info on voluntarily as they were small children at the time.

The statistics are available now as they are for all census and family history is the only real reason to want to see the 1911 (am I biased   ?)
I don't think government policy should be determine by whether there is an illegitimate child in the family and it has been pointed out BMD is freely available anyway - no father's name is listed for me, I'm not shamed - that's life.  Property records are available now so you can piece it all together anyway the extra info is purely of interest to the family historian - whaaayyayy another Ag Lab!

The X year rule should be to protect people against fraud and if the assessment is that there is no threat from using the 1911 census then hohum let's see where my gggrandfather lived.

And lastly, the exclusion was based on an extension to the 30 yr rule.  Well 100 just ain't pretty as a multiple of 30.  90 is much prettier!

Personally I can wait for 8 years but I'd rather not.

Cheers,
Pam
 

[jaq]

Hi Pam and thanks for your input.

"Personally I can wait for 8 years but I'd rather not."

here! here!

seriously, i dont reckon it will get released early,although i hope it does.
my main reason for starting the post was to get ideas and responses, not to wind anyone up.
Yes,if its released it will draw in a few bob,and yes quite a few of us family researchers will be smiling.
is that considered to be selfish? i just want to jump to the next available census [1911 UK] and knock down those barriers. lets face it, if it WAS released early, how many people who previously said "no way do we want it released" would refuse the chance to have a look?
 

jaq

[jaq]

see also
http://www.rootschat.co.uk/forum/index.php?board=145;action=display;threadid=2969

welsh Jen's posting..

ok, looks like end of subject   we now have 8 years to exhaust all other avenues...[depressing thought,isnt it?]
jaq