§ Mr. BoatengTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) how many applications were made to release personal census data from the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys in each of the last five years; [31486]
(2) for how long the information contained within the 20th century census returns has been (a) sold and (b) otherwise released for profit; and which returns are involved; [31516]
(3) what assessment he has made of the arrangements for the safekeeping of 20th century census returns and their continued confidentiality; [31487]
(4) on what statutory authority, the sale or disposal for profit of personal information contained in 20th century census records takes place; and for how long such sales and releases have occurred. [31517]
§ Mrs. Angela KnightI have been asked to reply.
The records for the 1901 and subsequent censuses in England and Wales are in the care of the Registrar General for England and Wales. They are confidential and not open to public inspection in any circumstance, undertakings having been given at the time of each census that the information would be used only for the preparation and publication of statistical data.
Personal information obtained from 20th century returns are not, and never have been, either (a) sold or (b) otherwise released for profit. Census records are held in strict confidence for a period of 100 years by virtue of an instrument under the Public Records Act 1958. Under a concession announced in Parliament in 1972, information on place of birth and age can be made available from the 1901 census with the consent of the persons concerned or, if deceased, a descendant—or next of kin if the person dies childless. A further concession, announced in 1993, allows information form the 1911 census to be released where, and only where, it is essential for the purpose of establishing a legal entitlement such as an inheritance. A charge is made to the applicant to cover the administrative costs of searching the appropriate census records, and the supply of the information, if the search is successful but not for the information itself.
The numbers of written requests for such information held on record for the last three years are: 187W
- 1993: 597
- 1994: 715
- 1995: 673
The census records for the years 1901 and 1911 are held by the Public Record Office in secure accommodation respectively at Chancery lane—shortly to move to Kew—and Hayes, Middlesex. Those returns for the years 1921, and 1951 to 1991 are held by the registrar general at Christchurch. Returns from the 1931 census were destroyed by fire and there was no census in 1941.
In 1990, the British Computer Society carried out an independent review of the census security and confidentiality arrangements. Its report to Parliament— published in 1991 as Cm 1447—stated that they were generally satisfied with the arrangements for the safekeeping of census forms but recommended that the possibility of storing the forms in an alternative format be kept under review. This is being done. There was a similar review in 1981.
Statistical abstracts of data from censuses since 1921 have been made available under section 4(2) of the Census Act 1920.