Genealogy Chat

The PM's web site allows British citizens to create and sign petitons, there is one of potential interest to family historians, , go to http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/archives-access/AYNiUjANeVNvC2cEYTAvTxL and sign up to help preserve and improve access to census and other reecords. The petition was created by Hugh Watkins and reads: 'We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to enable better Freedom of Information access to census and other archives.'

I dont really understand what this petition is about? The only archives we do not already have access to are those containing potentially sensitive information, such as medical records, adoption records etc. Many old historical documents are held in private hands and are not available to the public - how would those be affected, and should they be? OC

The petition is to get access to nationally created records including census records post 1901, the 1911, 1921, etc census records are embargoed for 100 years from their date of compilation. There were also moves to change the registration system which would have meant it was more difficult for future generations to do family history reserach, which are now under review but need an eye kept on them to ensure access to historic registers is maintained. Pam

Pamela Thanks for that - I understand now. Seems a bit odd to me that the GRO is in the middle of a project which will make bmd certs downloadable on line, and yet the Government is considering tightening up the Registration process? Left hand not knowing what right hand is doing? OC