370,000 families STILL haven’t filled in census

MORE than 370,000 households in Scotland have failed to complete the census – even after the deadline was extended by a month.

An official update published yesterday showed that, as of May 26, Scotland’s national return rate is still at only 85.7 per cent.

So far around 2,239,000 homes have completed the form – while 374,000 have not returned their information.

Completing the census – which takes place every ten years – is a legal requirement and households who fail to comply face a £1,000 fine.

England and Wales achieved a far better turnout when the census was held there in March last year, managing a return rate of 97 per cent.

The Scottish Government has attracted criticism for running its own version of the census, instead of simply letting the UK Government organise it as in previous years.

Originally, households in Scotland were asked to complete it by May 1, but a poor turnout meant the deadline was extended until May 31.

The extension has cost taxpayers an extra £9.76 million on top of the £138 million it cost to carry out a separate survey from the rest of the UK. The return rate needed for the survey to be classed as successful is 94 per cent of all households.

Another ‘critical success factor’ the census has failed to meet is more than an 85 per cent return rate in each local authority area.

As of May 26, seven Scottish local authority areas had failed to pass the desired return rate, and Glasgow City had the lowest figure at just 79 per cent.

Aberdeenshire, the Orkney Islands and Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles) have the highest turnout rates at 91, 91.3 and 91.9 per cent.

Critics have slammed the SNP’s handling of the census as ‘shambolic’.

Liberal Democrat MSP Willie Rennie said it was being ‘completed at a snail’s pace’ and Scotland couldn’t afford to allow the ‘opportunity to inform the delivery of public services to fall short’.

Paul Lowe, chief executive of National Records of Scotland, yesterday urged householders who have yet to complete the form to do so as soon as possible.

He said: ‘You only have until the end of the month to make sure that your voice is heard.

‘Census data is used to make important decisions on vital public services like schools, hospitals, housing and public transport, so filling it in really makes a difference to you, your family and your community.’

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it was necessary that ‘lessons are learned’ from this year’s poor return and ‘expert advice’ should be sought to ensure the census continues to be a useful exercise.

Britain’s first official census dates back to 1801 but the one in 1841, which used a new registration service, is regarded as the first modern census.

In more than 200 years, the only census missed was in 1941, due to the Second World War.

‘Data is used to make decisions on vital services’