Extension fails to save botched Scottish census

THE SNP’S botched census will cause a “decade of injustice”, opposition leaders have warned, after an extension failed to rescue the £148 million survey.

Despite giving Scots an extra four weeks to complete forms after almost a quarter failed to respond on time, it is expected that well over 300,000 households will have failed to fulfil their legal obligation to fill the survey in when the second deadline falls tonight.

The national response rate was at 86.6 per cent on Sunday, meaning census chiefs are likely to miss their target of a 94 per cent completion rate.

Holyrood politicians last night called on all political parties to promise that they would never again sever ties with the timing of the UK census.

Return rates show that areas with higher deprivation were far more likely to have lower response rates.

Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish First Minister, has admitted that the response rate is so low that the data could be useless, while experts have warned that the decision to delay the deadline after it opened had already compromised the quality of data.

Sarah Boyack, the Scottish Labour MP, said: “These are not just numbers on a spreadsheet, this is about funding and services for our communities.”

The decision to delay the survey for a year north of the border cost taxpayers an extra £21.6 million, before the extension cost another £9.7 million. It means the total bill to the public purse for the census will be nearly £150 million.

Ministers previously claimed those not responding could face prosecution and £1,000 fines.

Independence activists are to be urged to promise not to speak ill of the English amid fears that Anglophobia could wreck their dreams of separation. Stewart Hosie, a senior SNP MP, said a new code of conduct could help to stamp out “intemperate language” that could “weaken the campaign”.