General Chat

Hi all, For those that already know about it, my apologies, please just delete. For those that haven't seen this and would like to add their names. Please spread the word around. Cheers, Roy Subject: 100 year closure There are many people interested in having the 1911 Census released early. Details of a petition set up in Nov 2006 and due to end in March has not been known or advertised (only 1,700 signatures a couple of days ago). Here are the details: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/CensusInfoFreed/ 10 Downing St has set up a web-based means to petition the government, and a petition has been set up to register interest in making this reduction in the census classification period. Any British citizen, resident or expatriate, wishing to add their name to the petition can do so at If you are in favour of reducing the 100 year rule more signatures are needed. I expect this is the best, if not only, chance you will get to have a say. This petition is not specifically about the 1911 census, it is also about reducing the closed period of subsequent censuses including the 1921 and 1931 from 100 years to 70 years. If adopted by the Government it should see these opened immediately. I believe the 1931 was destroyed during WWII but some of it may have survived. Regardless of where in the world you live, if you were born in Britain or if you were born outside Britain and either parent was a British Citizen, you are eligible to sign as an Expatriate. I would also point out that even if you were required to renounce your British Citizenship on becoming a national of another country, e.g. the USA, you are still eligible to sign because the British Government does not recognise renunciation of Citizenship. Early access to censuses is of primary importance to all those researching British ancestors. Censuses have relevance to people who lived in every part of the country. Note that whilst *mention* of the petition ought not be banned it is quite reasonable to expect that a List/Board owner might consider it 'Off Topic' and want to prohibit discussion of it. There is a counter-petition circulating which seeks to maintain the status quo - so far with only 10 signatures but that will change. So, SIGN and get other eligible family members to do likewise