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Census

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What is the Census?

A Census is a survey of all people and households in the country. It provides essential information from national to neighbourhood level. Every effort is made to include everyone across the country at the same time. This is why the Census is so important as it is the only survey, which provides a detailed picture of the entire population. The same core questions are asked everywhere enabling comparisons across different parts of the country.

Since 1801, every 10 years the nation has set aside one day for the Census. The most recent Census was held on Sunday 29 April 2001. In England and Wales, the Census is planned and carried out by the Office of National Statistics (ONS). Plans are being made to hold the next Census in 2011.

Why do we have a Census?

At various times we all use public services including schools, health services, transport and libraries. These services need to be planned, and changed in accordance to modern life. We need accurate information on the number of people where they live and what their needs are. Every ten years the Census provides a benchmark and allows us to analyse and compare different groups of people across the entire nation.

The Census costs approximately £255 million for the UK as a whole, but the information enables billions of pounds of taxpayers' money to be targeted where it is needed. The Census provides us with invaluable facts about:

Population
Health
Housing
Employment
Transport and
Ethnic Groups.

A more detailed list of information obtained is available here: Questions asked of a Household in Census

Confidentiality

The confidentiality of personal information is of supreme importance. The Census data is collected and processed in secure conditions. Census confidentiality is legally protected making the unauthorised disclosure of personal Census information an offence.

A digital image of each 2001 Census form is captured for processing and is retained in strict confidentiality to be released after 100 years to the public.

The 2011 Census

Planning for the 2011 Census is under way. Plans for the run-up to the census include:

a test of innovative technology, systems and principles in 2007, and
a rehearsal of the complete census system in 2009.

The 2011 Census Programme has researched the need for conducting a census, and concluded that there is a unique value in, and continuing need for, the type of information collected by a census, and that the census is the best way of collecting this information in 2011.

For more information see Census in England and Wales (ONS)