1911 Census debate

The Campaign for the release of the 1911 census rolls on, see website of the pressure group "The UK Centre for Census Access Studies"
"...has recently discovered that, in August 2004, the Information Commissioner’s Office advised the National Archives that “the Commissioner might experience considerable difficulty in agreeing that the release (of the 1911 census) could be delayed until 2011 in the event of a request under Section 1 of the (FOI) Act.” Nevertheless, for reasons that are not obvious, the Commissioner has not yet published his decisions on requests about this matter which he received in May 2005 – 8 months ago."

There is an early day motion , currently signed by 36 MPs
"That this House notes that the Freedom of Information Act 2000 repealed the 100-year closure period for decennial census records, but that, nevertheless, the Department for Constitutional Affairs and the National Archives assert that it is Government policy that the 1911 Census shall remain closed to inspection for 100 years; and urges the Information Commissioner to take an early opportunity to publish his advice on this matter."

See the Parliamentary background at "They work for you.com"

The issue is complex - as it relates to a duty of confidentiality to those still alive in 2006 who were recorded when the Census was taken in 1911 and I suspect practical issues of resourcing the availabilty of the census that will attract a huge amount of interest. There is a strong argument that the duty may not be "actionable" given the time delay and the likelihood no one may be living at the addresses now and there would still be a consideration of public interest. Though it is understandable that the Government are proceeding cautiously given that the duty given on a census form is an important guarantee for public confidence in the system. Any ICO decisions will be interesting.