Why breaking from rest of UK has backfired so badly
What was different about the Scottish census?
ENGLAND, Wales and Northern Ireland finished collecting census data on March 21, 2021. But SNP ministers decided to break from the rest of the UK.
Why did they do this?
FORMER economy secretary Fiona Hyslop claimed it was aimed at getting more responses. She said: ‘The quality of the census data must remain robust, and by moving to 2022 National Records of Scotland can continue to deliver a census which ensures the highest possible response rate from people across Scotland.’
But the Scottish Government has been ridiculed following the low completion rate, with only 74 per cent of households having done so.
What has been the problem?
THE SNP Government has been accused of failing to take advantage of a better communication campaign launched south of the Border. There were also questions that outraged some, including allowing trans people to state their sex, with the answer not having to match
Q&A
the one stated on their birth certificate. A new question also asked for ‘national identity’, which can be anywhere with which they feel an affiliation. There was concern that the only options for British people of white ethnic background were ‘Scottish’ or ‘Other British’ despite half a million people selecting English in the previous census.
What happens now?
THE census has been delayed for another four weeks in a desperate bid to get more responses. But the delay will cost an extra £10million, on top of the £138million it has already cost.
What happens if you do not fill it in?
EVERYONE must complete or be accounted for in the census, with a potential fine up to £1,000 and a criminal record for a failure to fill it in or giving false information.