1901 Online service
Latest statement from the PRO
23 July 2002: Update.
_____
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.
1901 Census Microform Service
The 1901 Census returns for England and Wales are available for public
consultation on microfiche (without a person name index) at HYPERLINK
"http://www.pro.gov.uk/about/access/census.htm"Kew. Many HYPERLINK
"http://www.pro.gov.uk/about/access/censuscontacts.htm"local libraries
and record offices throughout England and Wales also have microform
copies of the 1901 returns for their local areas. Microform copies of
the 1901 Census returns are not available at the Family Records Centre.
1901 Census Vouchers
The life of active vouchers will be extended once the online service
resumes. For further information see our page about HYPERLINK
"http://www.pro.gov.uk/census/vouchers.htm"vouchers.
Census website
If you wish to view a demonstration tour of the 1901 online service to
see how a basic search works or look at the Help pages and FAQs you can
do so at HYPERLINK
"http://www.pro.gov.uk/census/online.htm"http://www.pro.gov.uk/census/on
line.htm.
Mike Joy
See my web site at HYPERLINK
"http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mikejoy"http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mikej
oy
and please sign the petition !
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