Federation Of Family History Societies

Earlier Release of 1911 Census Data

 

Searchable from 2009

The exciting news released today is that, as a result of the Information Commissioner's decision (see below), The National Archives (TNA) is seeking to fast-track the significant plans it has already made to digitise the 1911 census!

Once the partner has been selected, and the contract awarded in the spring 2007, TNA hopes to start to offer a searchable service from early 2009 onwards - though certain key sensitive information (a handicap such as mental incapacity, for example) will still have to be withheld until 2012. This will provide an online service, across most fields of the census, enabling researchers anywhere in the world to search and download digital scans of images from the census. As with the 1901 online service, it will be both address and name searchable. It will offer a much cheaper and speedier access to the census returns than the planned Paid Research service described below.

We understand that some 5% of the 1911 census documentation has suffered water damage, and may be wholly or partly illegible, and that the documentation for one Piece Number is known to be missing completely. Nevertheless, we will all welcome the opportunity to research this information as soon as it becomes available.

Contrary to reports that have appeared elsewhere on the internet, the FFHS has been working - and will continue to work - very closely with TNA to ensure the earliest possible release of research data such as that for the 1911 census. TNA paid the FFHS the courtesy of advising us personally of this exciting news, and drawing our attention to the facts that are available on their website - the press release can be viewed at
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/13dec2006.pdf
and FAQs are answered at
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/1911census/?homelink=news

Appeal Upheld

The Information Commissioner has upheld an appeal from a complainant who requested information from the National Archives (TNA) relating to the 1911 census schedules. TNA withheld the requested information, relying on the exemption under section 41 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the 'Act '). In this case, the Commissioner's decision is that TNA wrongly claimed section 41 in relation to the requested information and he therefore upholds the complaint. The Commissioner requires TNA to disclose the requested information to the complainant.

The Commissioner stresses that this Decision must be confined to the circumstances relating to the information requested in this case. This is not - and cannot be - a decision that the entirety of the 1911 census must now be disclosed. Nor does it create any precedent in the sense that all other requests for specific information within the 1911 or other census schedules must succeed. Each request for 1911 census information will need to be treated separately on its merits.

Please note that Government policy is that the 1921 and subsequent censuses should remain closed for 100 years. Unlike the 1911 census, the 1921 census was conducted under the 1920 Census Act, which is still in force and which contains a statutory prohibition on disclosure. This means that if any Freedom Of Information Act (FOI) requests are received for the 1921 census, the exemption found in S44 of the FOI Act will be invoked to maintain census confidentiality. (The 1921 census is not held by TNA and remains, like all subsequent censuses, in the custody of the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

In response to the Information Commissioner's decision, TNA is working hard to launch a service enabling it to deal with individual requests for some information in the 1911 census. This is planned to be made available from 17th January 2007. However:

• such requests can only be accepted in relation to specific addresses (no./name of house, street, place, county, etc) - there is no name index that would enable searches to be made for named individuals;
• requests must be in writing, preferably using the web-based form that will be provided on TNA's website in mid January - applications cannot be made in person at Kew or by phone;
• TNA cannot provide personally sensitive information from the 1911 census, in view of the Data Protection Act;
• the information will be provided through TNA's existing Paid Research service, and will be charged - currently £45 per address search;
• whilst TNA will endeavour to do all they can to find the information requested, the fee is for the cost of carrying out the research work and they will not be able to offer refunds on unsuccessful searches.

If you wish to take advantage of this service, please do not apply yet because TNA are not currently able to process any requests prior to the launch, at which time they will advise you how to apply. In any case, the amount payable means that the service will not be attractive to family history researchers generally.

Geoff Riggs, Chairman, FFHS
13 December 2006