The Office for National Statistics has launched a public consultation on the English and Welsh census, and they need your help…
The first UK census took place in 1801, and was little more than a head count of Britain’s population. Since then, our families have been asked to provide information about their lives every 10 years (except in 1941). This information helps the Government understand how society is changing and provide the vital services that we need, while also proving a gold mine for anyone researching their family history when the census records are released after 100 years.
However, today society and technology are changing faster than ever, and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) is looking to evolve its data collection in response. Here its director of population statistics Jen Woolford answers some key questions, and reveals how our readers can share their views.
How much did the 2021 census cost, and how many people completed it online?
The 2021 census programme cost about £900 million, which included improving the way that the ONS collects, processes and shares its statistics.
With nearly 90 per cent of household responses to the 2021 census in England and Wales being completed online, our target of 75 per cent was easily outstripped. In fact, more than half of the online responses were made on a mobile phone, something no one could have envisaged a few years ago.
Why is the Government looking for alternatives to the census?
In 2014, the Government set out its ambition that “censuses after 2021 will be conducted using other sources of data and providing more timely statistical information”. In 2018, the ONS committed to responding to this ambition with a recommendation on the future of these population statistics for England and Wales.
Currently the census provides the backbone of our population statistics, with a rich picture of our society at national and local levels every 10 years. However, statistics become less accurate over the decade between censuses.
In recent years, the ONS has led a programme of research to improve our population and migration statistics by expanding the range of data sources we use. We have shown that we can produce improved population and migration estimates, and that we have developed methods for producing information about the population more often and more quickly. Our proposed system would make these statistics more flexible and responsive to change.
Are the needs of future family historians being considered?
We are fully aware that t
