Written question asked by Lord Brady of Altrincham (Conservative) on Tuesday, 23 April 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 7 May 2002. It was answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Labour) on Tuesday, 7 May 2002 on behalf of the Lord Chancellor's Department.

Lord Chancellors Dept

Question: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will instruct the Public Record Office to consult their counterparts in Scotland on lessons to be learned from the launch of an Online Census service in Scotland. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Brady: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will instruct the Public Record Office to consult their counterparts in Scotland on lessons to be learned from the launch of an Online Census service in Scotland. [52751] Ms Rosie Winterton: The two sites are very different in character--the Scottish census site manages 4.5 million names as opposed to 32.5 million names on the 1901 Census for England and Wales, and the present population of Scotland is approximately a tenth of that in England and Wales. The payment model chosen for the online sensus in Scotland imposes an initial £6 charge for access to the site and units of £6 thereafter. The 1901 Census for England and Wales has an entirely free index search facility, which can be used without any restriction; the minimum fee for access to transcriptions or record images is £5, in return for which the user can obtain between six and ten copies. The PRO undertook extensive consultations with users who indicated that, out of a range of possible payment models, their preference was for a payment system based on the delivery of record images.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 52751; 385 c70W;385 c70-1W
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Census Fees and charges Internet Public records Scotland Public Record Office
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk