Has there ever been a case in Britain of census data being misused by
the government? Indeed in the 1970s the ONS were even reluctant to make
the summary population table at the front of each CEBs available to
researchers!
I know that how the Nazi's used census data and also how the Americans
used the 1940 census to round up Japanese Americans.
Indeed in 1961 when the government used the census to identify nurses
who were not in work (presumably for child care reasons in most cases)
the public outcry was distinctly comical!
I firmly subscribe to the cock-up theory of history and doubt very much
if we have anything to fear from the census. Certainly the benefits
which accrue from the census (as was noted by John Rickman in the 1790s)
far out way the dangers.
We need proper safeguards I agree but judging from past experiences in
Britain I don't think that there is anything to fear!
David
-----Original Message-----
From: From: Local-History list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Dr Gill Draper
Sent: 07 July 2010 16:48
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [LOCAL-HISTORY] 2011 census
My religion? My sexuality? My marital status? My mortgage or rent? My
disability? My health? My role as a carer-or not? My ethnic group? All
shared with a few 'clerical workers' and the mighty power of computers
and government databases? Should historians not remember the gas
chambers?
gill
-----Original Message-----
From: From: Local-History list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of GATLEY David A
Sent: 07 July 2010 16:31
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: 2011 census
I think one needs to keep this in perspective. Tesco and Sainsburys know
far more about us than the government via our loyalty cards.
Who honestly cares (other than a few civil servants) and peoples'
descendents in 100 years if we actual complete the census form? The
information required is hardly intrusive and my feeling is that once a
clerical worker at the ONS has seen one form they will have no real wish
to see any more and will be bored out of their heads by the exercise
after a few hours.
Or am I being naive?
David
-----Original Message-----
From: From: Local-History list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Dr Gill Draper
Sent: 07 July 2010 16:25
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [LOCAL-HISTORY] 2011 census
Rather different though if it is the ONS as a organ of the state
tracking our post, surely? 'Most large organisations' cannot prosecute
us for failing to return forms-yet!
Will the census forms make clear to people that RFID chips are being
used to monitor the return of forms?
Gill
-----Original Message-----
From: From: Local-History list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Humphrey Southall
Sent: 07 July 2010 16:01
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: 2011 census
Not monitoring the post as it passes through the postal system, just
what people post to ONS, on arrival. Most large organisations have some
kind of system for tracking bulk mailings.
>>> Dr Gill Draper <[log in to unmask]> 07/07/2010 15:48
>>> >>>
Interesting times indeed if the state is to monitor our post with RFID
chips. The office of the Information Commissioner states that this is
the first they have heard of it, but is happy to be sent the details...
... Gill Draper
-----Original Message-----
From: From: Local-History list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Humphrey Southall
Sent: 07 July 2010 15:27
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: 2011 census
I am in the odd position of being a historian (of sorts) and on the
academic advisory panel for the 2011 census -- the other members are
mostly geographers or demographers, but not historical ones.
It is very noticeable that although there certainly is a legal
requirement to complete the census, ONS officials in the census division
do not rely on it, and tend to see a steadily dwindling response rate as
a fact of life.
Under a hundred people were prosecuted for not completing the 2001
census, when clearly some millions of people failed to do it. My sense
is that in practice you had to be very public about your active refusal
to complete the reform before legal action was taken.
That said, 2011 is going to be done differently. In most of the country
forms will be both posted out and posted back, with detailed tracking of
who has sent a form back (there will be RFID chips on the forms, so it
will be possible to "scan" a mailsack of forms to see who has returned
one long before the replies are processed).
The enumerators will be targeted on "hard to enumerate" areas, which
will be defined in quite a detailed way (i.e. not simply a few inner
city areas, but specific groups of streets in many parts of the
country), enabling repeated visits to addresses that have not responded.
The census division are expecting this to lead to some rise in
prosecutions, into the low hundreds, but while leaving the last meeting
I and another member of the advisory panel agreed that there might be a
MUCH bigger increase, as it became undeniable that lots of people were
not just failing to complete the form but definitely refusing.
Interesting times.
Best wishes,
Humphrey Southall
The information in this email is confidential and is intended solely for
the addressee. Access to this email by anyone else is unauthorised.
If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying,
distribution or any action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on
it, except for the purpose of delivery to the addressee, is prohibited
and may be unlawful.
Kindly notify the sender and delete the message and any attachment from
your computer.
The information in this email is confidential and is intended solely for the addressee. Access to this email by anyone else is unauthorised.
If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution or any action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it, except for the purpose of delivery to the addressee, is prohibited and may be unlawful. Kindly notify the sender and delete the message and any attachment from your computer.
|