Paul Duxbury

1911 UK Census Petition

August 19th, 2006

As regular readers will be aware I am a keen Genealogist or Family Historian. I am pleased to be able to report that we are trying to do something to help other Genealogists!

The UK Government continues to claim that the 1911 UK Census Returns are confidential. They claim that they cannot be released under the 100 Year Rule despite the fact that the UK Freedom of Information Act 2005 should make them available.

The reluctance of the UK Government to release this information continues to confound Family Historians and a Petition has been launched to attempt to get them to reconsider their position. The petition can be signed at Get The 1911 Census Online

Genealogists are asking why when Northern Ireland saw the release of both the 1901 Census and the 1911 Census in 1960; the Freedom of Information Act 2005 removed the restrictions placed on the release of information and prior to 1911 the average release period for Census Returns was 80 years they cannot have access to the 1911 UK Census information.

Genealogists and Family Historians would derive immense benefit from being able to further research their Family Histories if the 1911 Census Returns were made available. We recognise that the release of the census returns after 100 years is determined by long-standing government policy however the Freedom of Information Act 2005 supersedes that policy. We also acknowledge that the 1911 census form included the following emphatic assurance to householders: ´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 Strict Care will be taken that no information is disclosed with regard to individual persons.´ Again this is superseded by the Freedom of Information Act 2005.

Entry Filed under: Genealogy, 1911 UK Census, Census, Petition