When is the next census?
The next census is happening in March 2021. The following information is adapted from the attached Community Handbook produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Please view the handbook in its entirety for full further detail on the national census process.
What is the census?
The census is a survey that happens every 10 years and gives us a picture of all the people and households in England and Wales. It tells us what our needs are now, and what they’re likely to be in the future. It also gives a snapshot of how we live, for future generations to look back on.
You must complete the census by law. If you do not, or if you supply false information, you could be fined up to £1,000. Some questions are clearly labelled as voluntary. It is not an offence if you do not answer these.
Why is it important?
Knowing what your community’s needs are helps organisations like councils plan and fund public services in your area and across England and Wales. Information you give informs where billions of pounds of funding is spent on things like transport, education and health.
Who runs the census?
The census in England and Wales is run by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The ONS is the UK’s largest independent producer of official statistics. Our main responsibilities are collecting, analysing and sharing statistics about the UK’s economy and society, as well as organising the census. The ONS and the statistics we generate are independent from government. Although we report to the UK’s Parliament, our work is protected from political interference.
You can read more about the ONS at www.ons.gov.uk
What will I be asked?
The census asks questions on a range of topics, including information about:
- individuals, such as their name, age, sex and marital status
- households, such as family relationships
- the homes we live in, such as their location, number of people living there and what facilities they have
What is different this year?
New questions
Following discussions with the public, testing and research, and after careful consideration, Census 2021 will ask questions on three new topics. These are:
- service in the UK Armed Forces
- gender identity
- sexual orientation
Primarily online
Census 2021 will be the first to be carried out primarily online.
How is my data handled?
Data protection and privacy
The safety of your information is our top priority. The census asks questions about you, your home and the people who live in it. The census has a proud 200-year history of keeping this personal information safe. We have a strict security regime that follows government standards. This includes physical and IT security measures to protect your data, covering people, processes and technology. What’s more, no one can tell who you are in the statistics we publish.
All our systems, staff and suppliers, and the way we do things must protect your confidentiality by law. It is a crime for anyone to share your personal information. Government departments dealing with any
applications you’ve made, or any payments or services you receive, cannot see your census information. For example, it cannot be used to influence benefit claims, a residency application, immigration status or taxes. Landlords, or any private organisation, will not be able to see your personal information either. We’ll never use your personal information to try to sell you anything or find you. We’ll never sell your information.
Census records will be kept secure for 100 years. Only then can future generations view them, for example, those interested in family history. The ONS only ever publishes anonymous statistics from the census. We don’t publish anyone’s name. We only ask for them to help ensure the statistics are accurate, for example, to help us make sure that each person is only counted once.
No one from the ONS or Census 2021 will ever ask for payment to help anyone to fill in their questionnaire.If you’d like more information about the census, visit www.census.gov.uk