Support Our Work Mailing list About / Contact

Census and confidentiality

01 January 1991

Support our work: become a Friend of Statewatch from as little as £1/€1 per month.

Census and confidentiality
artdoc June=1991

The 1991 census conducted in April has raised a number of questions about
its confidentiality. The British Computer Society said in a report that all
it could do was to comment on plans and intentions but that it could not
give `a definitive view of actual adherence in practice'. This was
especially so, the report said, because `not all the procedures had been
defined, not all aspects of the systems had been designed, not all the
equipment had been procured or installed, nor had all accommodation been
completed'.
In a short debate on the confidentiality of the census Harry Cohen MP
said that the government should allow subject access so that people can see
their own personal data, and complained that data was to be released for
commercial sale based on postcodes which could contain as few as 16
households and 50 individuals.
1991 Census of Population: Confidentiality and Computing, Cm 1447, HMSO,
1991, ¼4.95; Census (Confidentiality) Bill [Lords],House of Commons debate,
4.3.91, cols 72-78.

Statewatch no 2, May/June 1991


Our work is only possible with your support.
Become a Friend of Statewatch from as little as £1/€1 per month.

 Previous article

Metropolitan Police press cards (1)

Next article 

New PACE Codes of Practice and duty solicitor arrangements

 

Spotted an error? If you've spotted a problem with this page, just click once to let us know.

Report error

Statewatch does not have a corporate view, nor does it seek to create one, the views expressed are those of the author. Statewatch is not responsible for the content of external websites and inclusion of a link does not constitute an endorsement. Registered UK charity number: 1154784. Registered UK company number: 08480724. Registered company name: The Libertarian Research & Education Trust. Registered office: MayDay Rooms, 88 Fleet Street, London EC4Y 1DH. © Statewatch ISSN 1756-851X. Personal usage as private individuals "fair dealing" is allowed. We also welcome links to material on our site. Usage by those working for organisations is allowed only if the organisation holds an appropriate licence from the relevant reprographic rights organisation (eg: Copyright Licensing Agency in the UK) with such usage being subject to the terms and conditions of that licence and to local copyright law.

About | Contact | Privacy Policy