Family Historian User Group

Some one has started a petition for Prime Minister to get the Census release date pulled back to 70 years. I have no idea if it will help, but any UK resident can sign up.

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


ID:2074

Despite the fact that I'd love to see the early 20th century censuses, I rather hope (and believe) this petition will be ignored.

When governments obtain information from citizens (that's you and me) on the assurance that it will only be used for statistical purposes for at least 100 years, we must be able to trust them.

I read somewhere that one of them was used at the start of one of the world wars to identify enemy aliens, but it required an act of parliament, and even under those extreme conditions was controversial.

Trust this government? [lol]

Thanks for the link Jane, have signed it

hi,

there was a recent petition to get the 1911 census released early, but apparently the government refused to release it before 2012.

maybe the tory party will put it in their manifesto - sure to be a vote winner, especially as they're reluctant to cut taxes.

alan

According to 'Your Family Tree' magazine a petition under the Freedom of Information act means they are now looking to release part of 1911 in 2009, keeping back some sensitive information.

The official position is at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/1911census/

Andrew

I think the census should remain closed until the 100 years has elapsed.At the time the census is taken you are told that the information will not be available for 100 years ,if you change that to suit researchers like ourselves then that trust has been broken.With people living longer now there is more chance that anyone listed on the census is still around.This may be frustrating but I still think it should remain closed for the 100 years.

I agree, it should remain closed for 100 years. Likewise I think graves and headstones should remain in place for at least 100 years - unless they are unsafe.

This is a sore point as my great-grandmother (died 1965) has not only had her headstone removed but someone else is buried in her spot.

Irene B

As expected the petition has been rejected...

Well, it was worth a try i guess!