Here is the latest update
23 July 2002: Update.
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Unfortunately we still cannot give a firm date when the 1901 Census Online Service will
be fully functional. However, QinetiQ, who are responsible for setting up the site and
providing the online service, have continued to make technical improvements to it. QinetiQ
have been testing the site and the Public Record Office has also carried out its own
independent test programme. Now these tests are completed, we are planning to move to a
phase of testing of the online service by public users. Details of this will be available
shortly. We hope to complete this public testing phase by mid to late August.
However, the nature of testing is such that it throws up issues that need to be addressed,
and sometimes requires tests to be re-done. This could happen in the public testing phase
so it will still not be possible to give a firm date for general Internet access until the
public testing phase has been completed and fully evaluated. We do realise that the lack
of a precise timetable has caused much frustration to our customers, frustration which we
share, and for which we apologise.
We want to ensure that, when the 1901 Online Census is re-launched on the Internet, it
successfully handles the initial demand, which we expect will again be extremely high, and
provides a consistently reliable service to users.
We are committed to expanding online access to our most popular records and are continuing
with our other online projects.