Why exactly are census's secret for 100 years? Where are they stored?

[Paulo Leeds]

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[stanmapstone]

"The 100 year rule is not something with legal standing and is really nothing more than office policy," see
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=764724.msg6175762#msg6175762

Stan

[aghadowey]

So in what way are we protecting 90-year-old 'Alf' by not publicising where he lived in 1951, for example?

The 1939 register gives an exact date of birth.

You have to remember that the purpose of a census is not to provide you with information for tracing your family history. It is mainly used for statistical data and those figures are extensively analysed to provide the government and other bodies with details to show population changes, etc.

[stanmapstone]

You have to remember that the purpose of a census is not to provide you with information for tracing your family history. It is mainly used for statistical data and those figures are extensively analysed to provide the government and other bodies with details to show population changes, etc.

For example, although the the manuscript returns for the 1931 census were destroyed by fire in 1942, full reports were published based on the census returns, See http://histpop.org/ohpr/servlet/AssociatedView?path=Browse&active=yes&mno=2035&assoctitle=Census

Stan

[Sinann]

1939 register is not meant to show anyone still living.

I looked up a still living at the time 100+ year old in the 1911 Census only to discover she was illegitimate, most people today wouldn't care that their neighbours could do that but a 100+ year old might.

[Maiden Stone]

1939 register is not meant to show anyone still living.

I looked up a still living at the time 100+ year old in the 1911 Census only to discover she was illegitimate, most people today wouldn't care that their neighbours could do that but a 100+ year old might.

There's worse than that. Occupation of some women was recorded as prostitute. Not many in 1911 but plenty in 19th century. 

[pharmaT]

Understood, and yet there is the 1939 record. Don't know what detail it contains.

The 1939 survey was carried out in a rush as the purpose was to plan for the war effort those surveyed were not promised that their data would be secret for 100 years.

[Paulo Leeds]

so do we think they are all piled up row after row in some Top Secret metallic room somewhere?

[coombs]

Some falsely think that "when the census was taken that they were promised the info would be closed for 100 years". Such a promise was never made, and I am sure our expert Guy can vouch for that.