HC Deb 22 April 1999 vol 329 cc676-7W
Mr. John M. Taylor

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the hon. Members with whom, since 1 October 1998, the Lord Chancellor's Department or the Public Record Office have corresponded concerning public access to the 1921, 1951 and 1961 census returns, indicating the contents of the correspondence. [81557]

Mr. Hoon

Since 1 October 1998, the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Public Record Office have corresponded with the following hon. Members concerning public access to the 1921, 1951 and 1961 census returns: the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire (Sir B. Mawhinney), my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Benn), the right hon. Member for Skipton and Ripon (Mr. Curry), the right hon. and learned Member for Sleaford and North Hykeham (Mr. Hogg) and the hon. Member for South Suffolk (Mr. Yeo). In each case the hon. Member was forwarding one or two letters from constituents. There was a total of eight letters from constituents.

The constituents' letters asked when the current instruments prescribing 10 year extended retention periods for the census returns for 1921, 1951 and 1961 were next due for renewal. They also asked whether confirmation could be given that the census returns were not at present closed to public inspection for 100 years under the provisions of Lord Chancellor's Instrument 12 of 1966. The replies stated that the Lord Chancellor's Instruments were due for renewal as follows: 1921 census in 2006, 1961 census in 2001 and 1951 census in 2006. The replies also stated that these census returns were closed to public inspection for 100 years by Lord Chancellor's Instrument 12 of 1966.

Mr. John M. Taylor

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department where the grounds for a 100-year closure period for decennial census returns are set out. [81562]

Mr. Hoon

The grounds for a 100-year closure period for decennial census returns are set out in the White Paper "Open Government" of 1993 (Cm 2290). This assigned a 100-year closure period for decennial census returns on the grounds that they consist of documents supplied in confidence, the disclosure of which would constitute a breach of good faith.