Posted on the Sociiety Forum by Shaun O'Hara

COUNCIL OF IRISH GENEALOGICAL ORGANISATIONS

No Restriction in Access to General Register Office Records

In recent weeks stories have been circulated by some within the genealogical community that the new Freedom of Information Bill will restrict access to Ireland's civil registration records. CIGO can categorically state that these rumours are completely unfounded. No such change is contemplated and this has been confirmed by Brian Hayes TD, Minister of State in the Irish government. The Minister with overall responsibility for the passage of the FOI Bill is Brendan Howlin TD and during the coming committee stage he will put on record that these rumours are untrue.

You can read the full story here.
www.cigo.ie

From the Federation of Family History Societies 




The following message has been received by Ian Cope, Director of Population and Demography Directorate, Office of National Statistics -

I am writing to tell you that we are launching today, 23rd September 2013, a public consultation on `The Census and future provision of population statistics in England and Wales'.

You may be aware that our `Beyond 2011' programme has been reviewing all of the options. Our research has resulted in a clear view that there are two possible approaches to census-taking in the future:

· a census once a decade - similar to the 2011 Census but primarily online; or
· a census using existing administrative data and compulsory annual surveys.

Both approaches would provide annual statistics about the size of the population, nationally and for local authorities, as we do currently. A census using existing data and annual surveys would provide statistics about population characteristics every year. An online census would provide more detailed statistics but only once a decade.

Different users will have different views on the approaches, depending on how they use the data, and we welcome views from anyone.

The consultation will run for 12 weeks to 13th December 2013. We have arranged a number of events to support the consultation, listed in the link below. You may wish to be represented. Please feel free to circulate this email to anyone who you think may have an interest.

You can find the consultation document and a link to the online questionnaire here.

I very much hope that you or your organisation will be able to respond, and we would be very happy to provide further information or to discuss any issues with you direct.

Please contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions or wish to discuss further.

Beryl Evans
FFHS Archives Liaison Officer
[email protected]

The Lancashire Family History and Heraldry Society is booked to attend the following Fairs in 2013/4:-
 
* Batley on 9th November 2013.
10.00am to 4.00pm
Batley Town Hall, Market Place, Batley, WF17 5DE

* Rotherham on 29th March 2014.
10.00am to 4.00pm
Herringthorpe URC, Wickersley Road, Rotherham

* Pudsey on 10th May 2014.
10.00am to 4.30pm
Pudsey Civic Hall, Dawsons Corner, Pudsey, Leeds, LS28 5TA

* Sheffield on 31st May 2014.
10.00am to 4.00pm
1867 Lounge, Sheffield Wednesday FC, Hillsborough, Sheffield, S6 5TA

* York on 28th June 2014.
10.00am to 4.30pm
The Knavesmire Exhibition Centre, The Racecourse, York


If anyone is able to assist at these Fairs, please contact Stephen Ward by email: 
[email protected]
 
or by phone: 
01204 - 650348 evenings only
 
Stephen John Ward
LFHHS, Exhibitions & Fairs Co-ordinator.

From Tony Foster on the Society Forum


Just to let everyone know that the new version of Blackburn with Darwen's Cottontown website is now up and running:

www.cottontown.org

You may find there ware a few teething problems especially with the search function. If the result page appears blank you will need to scroll to the left or right to see the results.

Regards

Tony Foster