Written question asked by John M Taylor (Conservative) on Wednesday, 9 February 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 23 February 2005. It was answered by Ian Pearson (Labour) on Wednesday, 23 February 2005 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Northern Ireland Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if consideration has been given to commissioning an independent survey to discover whether the people of Northern Ireland are in favour of the re-establishment of 49 or 59-year confidentiality periods which applied to Northern Ireland decennial population census records for 1901 and 1911; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Mr. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if consideration has been given to commissioning an independent survey to discover whether the people of Northern Ireland are in favour of the re-establishment of 49 or 59-year confidentiality periods which applied to Northern Ireland decennial population census records for 1901 and 1911; and if he will make a statement. [216855] Mr. Pearson: Records from Northern Ireland censuses conducted under the Census Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 are currently closed indefinitely. In due course, consideration will be given to introducing legislation to open records after 100 years in line with the rest of the UK. No consideration has been given to commissioning a survey of the nature described.

Secondary information