2011 Census Commitment to confidentiality and data security
Data security and confidentiality of personal information is a top priority for the Census. It is central to the design of robust systems, processes and legal arrangements with contractors.
ONS confirms its overriding commitment to ensuring the confidentiality of personal Census data for a period of 100 years, and its use strictly for statistical purposes only.
All employees of both ONS and any appointed contractors working with Census data are bound by Regulations made under the 1920 Census Act and the confidentiality provisions of the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 (SRSA). Any breach of the SRSA confidentiality provisions is a criminal offence, subject to possible imprisonment and fines. All staff working with personal Census data sign a confidentiality declaration to confirm their understanding and commitment to the legal confidentiality undertakings.
All Census data is owned by ONS and all of the legal undertakings of confidentiality of personal Census information will apply to both ONS and any contractors.
Safeguarding data confidentiality and security is a top priority in defining legal arrangements with contractors. Contractual provisions ensure that confidentiality of personal data is secured, following the Office for Government Commerce’s model contract terms.
