§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North on 19 July, Official Report,c. 51, if he will introduce measures to prevent the breach of confidentiality of names and addresses given in census returns.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergStatutory measures to prevent breach of confidentiality of names and addresses given in census returns already exist. These comprise section 8 of the 1920 Census Act, the Census Regulations made pursuant to the Census Act and Section 2 of the 1911 Official Secrets Act. Furthermore, under section 5 of the 1958 Public Records Act census returns are closed for a period of 100 years as prescribed by Instrument No. 12 of the Lord Cancellor.