§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Lewis) on 8 April 1981, Official Report, c. 276, why names and addresses recorded on census forms are to be retained; and for how long.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergNames and addresses were recorded on the census forms primarily to assist form-fillers and census staff in taking the census. But they are also of use in the kinds of medical research that take place wholly within OPCS. Absence of names and addresses would diminish the value of census forms when they come to be used, after 100 years, for genealogical and historical research. Thus names and addresses are never removed from the decennial census returns which have been selected for permanent preservation under the Public Records Act 1958. However they are not included in the computer records. During the 100 years prescribed for closure the census returns are kept under strict security.