Hi The early release of the 1911 England & Wales census was achieved because of an FOI request by a gentleman called Guy Etchells. http://www.yourfamilytreemag.co.uk/page/yft?entry=view_the_1911_census_early Whilst there was a petition around that time it was the FOI ruling that led to the early release. http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/CensusInfoFreed/ It is also an FOI request from Guy Etchells that has opened the door to access to information collected under the 1939 Registration Act. The information collected was as follows 1. Names. 2. Sex. 3. Age. 4. Occupation, profession, trade or employment. 5. Residence. 6. Condition as to marriage. 7. Membership of Naval, Military or Air Force Reserves or Auxiliary Forces or of Civil Defence Services or Reserves A few weeks ago a decision was handed down that Guy was entitled to the information relating to a person as long as that person was deceased. We should know in the next week or to as to whether there is an appeal or not. This relates to England & Wales, I don't know about Scotland. Andy ----- Original Message ----- From: "Janet" <wightway@tiscali.co.uk> To: <aberdeen@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, December 03, 2009 7:32 AM Subject: Re: [ABERDEEN] 100 year limit? > Ray's right, the early release of the 1911 census for England & Wales was > achieved by > government following a petition on the No. 10 Downing Street website. > http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/ People's rights to privacy are worth > more than the > torment early release of sensitive information might do to those dont need > to know. I > inherited an envelope in my mother's hand with a plea to let it be because > it would do > nobody any good. > > Janet > >

An individual request would have been granted to any one by the Information Commissioner to one particular record on payment of a fee of £45 before the release of the 1911 census, providing he was satisfied with the application which had to supply addresses; limited information only would have been released. Mr. Etchells exercised his rights. Janet ----- Original Message ----- From: "Andy Candlish" <andycandlish@ozemail.com.au> | Hi | | The early release of the 1911 England & Wales census was achieved because of | an FOI request by a gentleman called Guy Etchells. | | http://www.yourfamilytreemag.co.uk/page/yft?entry=view_the_1911_census_early | | Whilst there was a petition around that time it was the FOI ruling that led | to the early release. | | http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/CensusInfoFreed/