§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what factors underlie the recent changes in the policy of the Public Record Office in respect of the retail of microfiche census returns to the general public; and if he will make statement. [133585]
§ Mr. LockThere has been no change in the practice of the Public Record Office in respect of the retail of microfiche or microfilm copies of the census returns up to and including that for 1891.
The census of 1901 is due for release in January 2002. It will be released in digital format over the internet.
It is recognised that not all potential users will have or wish to have access to the internet. For this reason, a complete set of 1901 Census documents will also be available for consultation on microfiche at the Public Record Office at Kew. The PRO will also offer to other record offices and local studies libraries copies on microfiche of the 1901 Census returns for their area.
No final decision has been taken on whether microfiche will be made available for sale beyond libraries and 922W archives, as was the practice in respect of earlier census releases. The situation will be reviewed in 2002 in the light of experience after the launch of the internet service.