Request
Does the amount of money received by FindMyPast/National Archives in connection with members of the UK public accessing online 1921 census records exceed the costs involved in digitizing the 1921 census records?
Outcome
Information provided
Response
FindMyPast bore the costs of digitising the 1921 census. The National Archives does not hold information on the total costs incurred by Find My Past to digitise the 1921 Census.
Due to the size and complexity of the 1921 Census project, some relatively minor costs were incurred by The National Archives which totalled £17,346.54. These relate more broadly to our care of the records and oversight of the project as a whole.
The National Archives receives royalties from FindMyPast as part of this digitisation contract. The income received in royalties from Find My Past does exceed the costs incurred throughout the project as totalled above.
Please note that the royalty income generated by the Census goes towards supporting the public service which The National Archives offers. The exact detail of those royalties is commercially sensitive and subject to a confidentiality clause.
Although your request does not ask for the amount of income The National Archives generates from royalties, we would be unlikely to provide you with specific details as such information would likely be considered for exemption at sections 41 and section 43 of the FOI Act. For more information about these exemptions please see the explanatory annex below.
Explanatory annexe
Exemptions applied
Section 41: Information provided in confidence
Section 41(1) of the Act exempts information if (a) it was obtained by the public authority from any other person (including another public authority), and (b) the disclosure of the information to the public (otherwise than under the Act) by the public authority holding it would constitute a breach of confidence actionable by that or any other person.
Further guidance on the application of this exemption can be found here:
https://cy.ico.org.uk/media/for-organisations/documents/1432163/information-provided-in-confidence-section-41.pdf
Section 43(2): Commercial Interests
Section 43(2) exempts information whose disclosure would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of any legal person or entity.
Further guidance on the application of this exemption cab be found here:
https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/foi-eir-and-access-to-information/freedom-of-information-and-environmental-information-regulations/section-43-commercial-interests/