Twenty per cent still to fill out census form
Around 20 per cent of people in Rutherglen and Cambuslang have still to fill out this year’s census.
The figures were revealed by the National Records of Scotland as locals were urged to respond to the nationwide survey or risk being fined.
Stats show that 82 per cent of Ruglonians have responded, while 79 per cent of Cambuslang residents have completed the census.
The roll out has become a political row in recent weeks, after the Scottish Government was forced to extend the deadline for replying by a month.
The Scottish Conservatives have claimed the Scottish census should have been held at the same time as the rest of the UK last year, saying this would have provided additional publicity, while concerns have also been raised over the focus on responding digitally, with Scotland’s worst areas for digital inclusion among those with the worst response rates.
Angus Robertson, the Scottish constitution secretary, recently warned that there were “potentially serious consequences for not completing a census”, including fines of up to £1000.
Paul Lowe, NRS chief executive, said: “Thank you to the 2.1 million households across the country who have already filled in their census. By doing so they have helped to shape important services in their community.
“For those who have yet to complete the census, I would urge you to act now. The census is an important way of understanding how the population and its needs are changing over time. We’re counting on people across Scotland to fill in their census so we have a full understanding of who lives in Scotland and what they need.”
The 2022 census asks questions on a range of topics, including the types of accommodation people stay in, household relationships, age, sex, health and employment status.
New questions for the 2022 census include use of British Sign Language (BSL), passports held, previous armed forces history and new voluntary questions on sexual orientation and trans status.
The 2011 census had a response rate of 96 per cent, without any deadline extensions.