Today’s the day for the census
TODAY is Census Day. Everyone should aim to complete the census form today or as soon as possible after.
“A successful census will help give the best picture of the needs of everyone living in England and Wales,” Iain Bell, deputy national statistician at the Office for National Statistics, said.
Operating in line with the Government’s latest Covid-19 guidance, field officers will be deployed across the country to contact those who have not responded. They will also remind people that their census response is required by law.
The census questionnaire includes questions about your sex, age, work, health, education, household size and ethnicity. And, for the first time, there will be a question asking people whether they have served in the armed forces, as well as voluntary questions for those aged 16 and over on sexual orientation and gender identity.
In Wales, households will also be asked a specific question about their Welsh language skills. And those who wish to complete the census in Welsh can do so both online and in paper form. There are “Cymraeg” and “English” buttons to switch between languages at any time online, and on paper you can use Welsh and English on the same form. You can request a paper form at www.census.gov.uk or call 0800 169 2021.
Results will be available within 12 months, although personal records will be locked away for 100 years, kept safe for future generations. Filling in the census is a legal obligation, with a £1,000 fine if you don’t fill it in. ■ To complete your census, or to find out how to get help, visit census.gov.uk or call 0800 169 2021.