Family history
Census records are a useful tool for researching family history. However, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) is prohibited by the Statistics and Registration Service Act from disclosing personal information relating to individuals. This prohibition applies also to any applications for details requested by individuals for census information relating to themselves under the Freedom of Information Act since the Statistics and Registration Service Act allows an exemption to the Freedom of Information Act in such cases.
Personal census information is held securely for 100 years before being made available to the public.
Census customer services can provide advice and expertise for finding statistical data from previous censuses from 1801.
Personal information from the censuses conducted between 1841 and 1901 is, however, available from the National Archives (TNA). The National Archives has custody of the 1911 Census records and intends to make these fully available online in 2012 - though an early release of information deemed to be non-sensitive began in 2008.
The National Archives offers advice on family history research and how to get started. Other organisations offer assistance in tracing friends and relatives. Some may charge for their services.
Note:
The management of census information is covered by several pieces of legislation: the Public Records Act 1958, the Census Act 1920, the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007, the Data Protection Act and the Freedom of Information Act.'
