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Census 2011

Cenus Day Sunday 27 March 2011 - Help tomorrow take shape

Every ten years the Office for National Statistics (ONS) carries out a census to find out more about the people who live in England and Wales and about the make-up of local neighbourhoods.

ONS are  currently sending out questionnaires fto around 26 million households to complete.

The census asks about work, health, national identity, citizenship, ethnic background, education, second homes, language, religion, marital status and so on. These statistics are then used to build a picture of today’s society.

Why does the census matter?

Like all local authorities in England and Wales, Ashford Borough Council relies on census population statistics to identify local needs for public services. Central government funding for these is directly related to how many and what kind of people the census shows live in our area. So even if the census were to end up just a few households short, it could make a very real difference to people’s lives. The census needs to include everyone, everywhere – and that’s why everyone has to take part.

it’s important to have a high census return rate providing accurate information so please remeber to complete your census and remind your family and friends to compete theirs too.

What will you need to do?

Simple. When the time comes, you’ll just need to answer a few questions about yourself and the people who share your household with you on census day, 27 March 2011. Everything you tell the census will be in strictest confidence and will only be used to produce statistics. ONS will not share your personal information with any other government department or organisation.

Need help completing your census form ?

There are a series of local events were you can go if you need assistance completing your census form.

Census online

If you prefer you can also complete your census online.

For more information, visit the census website.

Census Latest News

Over 360,000 people in England and Wales have taken advantage of the help available online and over the phone to help them fill in their 2011 census questionnaires.

Latest figures show the national Census Helpline on 0300 0201 101 has taken 342,971 calls since lines opened on March 4. Just over 20,000 people a day,  are using the census website's online help facility at www.census.gov.uk to seek help getting started and completing the questionnaire.

Now that most of the census forms have been delivered to 26 million households across England and Wales, popular requests about the census from helpline callers and people enquiring online at www.census.gov.uk include:

• When can I fill in the form online?
• What should I do if I'm away from home or on holiday?
• What are the legal responsibilities for individuals filling in the form?
• Can I have a replacement questionnaire

2011 Census Director Glen Watson said: "I am pleased so many people are taking the time to ask questions about the census when they need help. "I urge everyone to fill in their census qestionnaires to ensure a better future for all. The census provides a richly detailed snapshot of society that helps the right decisions to be made in future about services including housing,

schools and health provision."

Here are answers to some of the public's questions:

When can people fill in their form online?

As soon as you receive your paper questionnaire, you will be able to complete and submit the online questionnaire. Please remember that your completed questionnaire should accurately describe your household and visitors on census night, Sunday 27 March.

The paper questionnaire has your personal internet access code printed on the front page. You will need it to open your online questionnaire. Answers should reflect all those living or staying in your household (including any overnight visitors) on census day, Sunday 27 March.

What if I'm away on Census Day?

2011 Census requires everyone to be counted at the address where they usually live. Anyone away from home on census day, Sunday 27 March, must be included on the household questionnaire for their usual address.

If everyone in the household is away on census day please complete and return your questionnaire before you go or as soon as possible afterwards. Remember to make sure your answers are about your household on census day.

Your questionnaire needs to include all people who usually live at this address. This means that you should include everyone for whom this is their permanent or family home, even if they are working or studying away from home. If you are staying at another address in the United Kingdom on census night you should be included as a visitor on the questionnaire for that address.

What are the legal responsibilities?

The information you supply on your questionnaire is essential to produce accurate, high quality statistics. The 2011 Census needs to include everyone. That's why every household in England

and Wales must, by law, complete a census questionnaire. The householder must provide information about the accommodation and all the people who are living or staying there on 27 March 2011.

If you refuse to complete and return the questionnaire, or give false information, you may be liable for a fine. This liability does not apply to the completion of the religion question.

How do I request a replacement questionnaire?

If you have lost, damaged, or not received your household questionnaire, or if there is more than one household at your address you can request a replacement form.

If there is not enough space for all your household members and visitors on your questionnaire, you can either complete online (where there is space for 30 members and nine visitors), or fill in both your paper household questionnaire and one or more continuation questionnaires.

If you don't want your information seen by other members of your household, you

can complete an individual questionnaire. This can be completed online or on

paper.

This webpage was updated on 12/23/2011

 

 

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