Early release of 1951 census - petition

[MollyC]

A petition has been launched requesting the release of the 1951 census after 80 years:

https://chng.it/cs6XKZGZMR

[jim1]

There have been petitions going back to the 1901 census but it hasn't happened yet.

[coombs]

Would be good. Some people will say the 100 year rule and "when the censuses were compiled at the time, they were promised the info would be locked away for 100 years" but the late Guy Etchells often disputed that and said that 100 year rule only came into force from the 1981 census onwards. The 1851 census was released in 1912 I think.

[LizzieL]

see section 4.3

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/census-records/

[Jon_ni]

Guy Etchells disputed the 1911 (and 1939 Register) which were not governed by the 1920 Census Act & amendments which apply to the 1921 and subsequent.

Findmypast say "The 1921 Census was the first to be conducted following the introduction of the Census Act of 1920. This legislation prohibits the release of personal information by the Registrar-General so, in line with government policy and the promise of confidentiality, any census data recorded after 1920 will not be released until 100 years have passed."
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/help/articles/360009238898-when-will-the-1921-census-be-released-online

"The ruling by the Information Commissioner that resulted in the 1911 Census for England and Wales being opened early did not apply to the 1921 Census because, unlike the 1911 Census, the 1921 Census was conducted under the 1920 Census Act, which is still in force and which contains a statutory prohibition on disclosure." https://www.1921census.org.uk/

Guy himself though indicated it was NOT as clear-cut as above https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=804050.0 he favoured an 80 year but thought GDPR (2018) would be an issue with a reduction. So perhaps got not one but two Acts of Parliament that need debated and changed.

Re other parts in that thread we now know that there were very strict over security for the team that scanned the 1921 census and the transcriptions were done on strips of pages rather than entire pages such that nothing would leak out before the non-statutory arbitary 100.

The Statistics Board have to first release to TNA. TNA currently follow
https://cdn.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/information-management/closure-periods.pdf

The Irish Goverment were petitioned and lobbied about the 1926 but the CSO there resisted.
https://www.irish-genealogy-toolkit.com/1926-census.html
I see Chris started his 5 months ago and has 215 signatures.

[ColinBignell]

A petition has been launched requesting the release of the 1951 census after 80 years:

https://chng.it/cs6XKZGZMR

I wouldn't hold out much hope. Even petitions going through the official government web site

https://petition.parliament.uk/

don't have a particularly high rate of success.

[Nick_Ips]

Guy himself though indicated it was NOT as clear-cut as above https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=804050.0 he favoured an 80 year but thought GDPR (2018) would be an issue with a reduction. So perhaps got not one but two Acts of Parliament that need debated and changed.

One Parliament cannot bind another, so Parliament today could amend the legislation to disapply it to the 1951 census.  One Bill/Act can amend or repeal many Acts (or sections of Acts) so the legislative process is not all that complicated, provided time can be found for it.

Given the state of public finances, opening up more records could create an opportunity for new income streams.

In terms of whether the 1951 census should be made public earlier, the approach adopted for the 1939 Register made sense and didn't cause widespread outrage at people's information being made public before their death or the elapse of 100 years.  The US have published their 1950 census in full.  I don't believe the majority of the population would be opposed to (say) an 80-year threshold for the publication of redacted 1951 census records.

In fact the only strong argument I can see for keeping the 100 year 'promise' is that people may be reluctant to give information in the 2031 census if they fear it will be published within their lifetime.  But since the more recent censuses have been questionable in their accuracy/relevance, and there are mutterings about whether the 2031 census should actually go ahead, it has to be asked 'Does that really matter?'

[Wexflyer]

For the 6 counties, the 1951 census is the first extant census after that of 1911, and is therefore a special case.

[Jon_ni]

For the 6 counties the 1937 census is the first since 1911 and is held by PRONI.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-22848416
Would be handled separately like Scotland and likely require legislation by the NI Assembly following any changes passed in England & Wales.
It was taken under the Census (Northern Ireland) Act, 1936 and current ones are taken under a 1969 local Act https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Census_Act_(Northern_Ireland)_1969

http://www.histpop.org/ohpr/servlet//View?path=Browse/Legislation%20%28by%20geography%29/Ireland&active=yes&mno=4042

A census had been taken 1926 but householder returns do not survive (BBC link). It was intended to take one in 1941, so the 1937 omitted some questions (eg those regarding occupation and industry).
https://www.nisra.gov.uk/statistics/2001-and-earlier-censuses/1937-census