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To ask Her Majesty's Government what answers they anticipate to the 2011 census to the proposed ethnic group questions "any other Black/African/Caribbean background" and "any other ethnic group"; what "other ethnic group" other than Arabic was considered; and what percentage of respondents to the 2007 census test described themselves as...
To ask Her Majesty's Government what answers they anticipate to the 2011 census to the proposed ethnic group questions "any other Black/African/Caribbean background" and "any other ethnic group"; what "other ethnic group" other than Arabic was considered; and what percentage of respondents to the 2007 census test described themselves as...
Asked by
Lord Laird
(Ulster Unionist Party)
Answered by
Baroness Crawley
(Labour)
Answering body
United Kingdom Statistics Authority
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
16 December 2009
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Jil Matheson, National Statistician, to Lord Laird, dated December 2009.
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking (a) what answers are anticipated to the 2011 Census to the proposed ethnic group questions "any other Black/African/Caribbean background" and "any other ethnic group"; (b) what "other ethnic group" other than Arabic was considered; and (c) what percentage of respondents to the 2007 census test described themselves as "Gypsy or Irish traveller". (HL699)
(a) We would expect a range of different written responses for those ticking the "Any other Black/African/Caribbean background" box and the "Any other ethnic group" box in the 2011 Census question on ethnic group.
In 2001, for more than eight in 10 (84 per cent) of those in the "Other Black" group, an ethnic group description was specified in the text box on the census form. The majority (63 per cent) specified a "Black British" ethnic identity. A further 13 per cent were coded to a "Black Mixed" group, indicating mixed ethnicity where both or all ethnicities described are from different black groups.
The main write-in descriptions of the "Other Ethnic group" were Filipino (23 per cent), Japanese (21 per cent), Vietnamese (11 per cent), Arab (11 per cent), Middle Eastern (6 per cent), and North African (4 per cent) although we except most east Asian descriptors to be written in under the "Other Asian" space in 2011 and Arab respondents to use the "Arab" tick-box.
More information about the 2001 "other" groups can be found in our article Who are the "Other" ethnic groups? which can be downloaded from http://www.statistics.gov.uk/articies/nojournal/other_ethnicgroups.pdf.
(b) With space on the census questionnaire limited to only two new tick boxes, and many more demands for tick-boxes than could be accommodated, ONS developed a set of principles by which requirements for new tick box categories for ethnic groups could be assessed and prioritised. These covered:
strength of need for information;
lack of alternative sources of information;
clarity and quality of the information collected and acceptability to respondents; and
comparability with the 2001 Census data.
Particular groups which were identified during the consultation with users and also considered for individual tick boxes were:
African
Cornish
East African Asian
Eastern European
Greek/Greek Cypriot
Iranian
Jewish
Kashmiri
Kurdish
Latin American
Mixed: Black and Asian
Mixed: White and Chinese
Nepalese
Non-European White
Sikh
Sri Lankan
Turkish/Turkish Cypriot
Vietnamese
Detailed information about the prioritisation process and the ethnic groups which were considered together with the scores obtained are available in Annex A of the Information Paper Deciding which tick-boxes to add to the ethnic group question in the 2011 England and Wales Census.
http://www.ons.gov.uk/census/2011-census/2011-census-questionnaire-content/question-and-content-recommendations-for-2011/index.html.
(c) Less than 1 per cent of respondents to the 2007 test which was carried out in approximately 100,000 households from within the five local authority areas of Bath and North East Somerset, Camden, Carmarthenshire, Liverpool and Stoke-on-Trent recorded themselves as "Gypsy or Irish Traveller".
Subjects
Census; Ethnic groups; Travellers
Date
16 December 2009
Reference
699; 715 c230-1WA
House
House of Lords
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will print the "tick answer" options such as "choose one" and "tick all" on the 2011 census form in bold and capital letters to reduce incorrect responses.
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will print the "tick answer" options such as "choose one" and "tick all" on the 2011 census form in bold and capital letters to reduce incorrect responses.
Asked by
Lord Laird
(Ulster Unionist Party)
Answered by
Baroness Crawley
(Labour)
Answering body
United Kingdom Statistics Authority
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
16 December 2009
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Jil Matheson, National Statistician, to Lord Laird, dated December 2009.
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent questions asking (a) whether "tick answer" options such as "choose one" and "tick all" on the 2011 census form will be printed in bold and capital letters to reduce incorrect responses (HL744); (b) whether the words "Mixed British" wilt be added to the proposed ethnic group question title "Mixed/multiple ethnic groups" in the 2011 census, in line with the existing "Asian British" and "Black British" ethnic group options (HL747).
(a) The design of the 2011 Census questionnaire, including fonts, text format and page layout, has been subject to extensive methodological research and testing. In the options you refer to, "one" is in bold type and "tick all that apply" is in a different colour and font. There are no plans, at this late stage, to make any changes to the format of such instructions on the questionnaire.
(b) There are no plans to change the wording of this question. Parliament has now approved the Draft Census (England and Wales) Order 2009, which set out the question topics to be asked in the 2011 Census. The title of the "Mixed/multiple ethnic groups" category in the ethnic group question cannot, therefore, be amended at this stage.
Subjects
Census
Date
16 December 2009
Reference
744; 715 c231-2WA
House
House of Lords
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will add the words "Mixed British" to the proposed ethnic group question title "Mixed/multiple ethnic groups" in the 2011 census, in line with the existing "Asian British" and "Black British" ethnic group options.
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will add the words "Mixed British" to the proposed ethnic group question title "Mixed/multiple ethnic groups" in the 2011 census, in line with the existing "Asian British" and "Black British" ethnic group options.
Asked by
Lord Laird
(Ulster Unionist Party)
Answered by
Baroness Crawley
(Labour)
Answering body
United Kingdom Statistics Authority
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
16 December 2009
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Jil Matheson, National Statistician, to Lord Laird, dated December 2009.
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent questions asking (a) whether "tick answer" options such as "choose one" and "tick all" on the 2011 census form will be printed in bold and capital letters to reduce incorrect responses (HL744); (b) whether the words "Mixed British" wilt be added to the proposed ethnic group question title "Mixed/multiple ethnic groups" in the 2011 census, in line with the existing "Asian British" and "Black British" ethnic group options (HL747).
(a) The design of the 2011 Census questionnaire, including fonts, text format and page layout, has been subject to extensive methodological research and testing. In the options you refer to, "one" is in bold type and "tick all that apply" is in a different colour and font. There are no plans, at this late stage, to make any changes to the format of such instructions on the questionnaire.
(b) There are no plans to change the wording of this question. Parliament has now approved the Draft Census (England and Wales) Order 2009, which set out the question topics to be asked in the 2011 Census. The title of the "Mixed/multiple ethnic groups" category in the ethnic group question cannot, therefore, be amended at this stage.
Subjects
Census; Ethnic groups
Date
16 December 2009
Reference
747; 715 c231-2WA
House
House of Lords
I have obviously had discussions with the ONS about ensuring public confidence in the census, although I have not had particular discussions about how long information will remain confidential. I think that 100 years is appropriate, but if my hon. Friend wants to write to me about the matter, I will look at it again.
I have obviously had discussions with the ONS about ensuring public confidence in the census, although I have not had particular discussions about how long information will remain confidential. I think that 100 years is appropriate, but if my hon. Friend wants to write to me about the matter, I will look at it again.
Answered by
Baroness Smith of Basildon
(Labour)
Asked by
David Leslie Taylor
(Labour)
Answering body
Cabinet Office
Type
Oral answers to questions
Is it not the case that there needs to be public acceptability of the level of detail in the 2011 census? Has my hon. Friend had discussions with Jil Matheson about the level of disaggregated data that will be published, the timetable that will be associated with that, and whether full census form information will be published rather earlier than the present limit of 100 years?
Subjects
Census
Date
9 December 2009
Reference
502 c345
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
On the issue of costs, the benefits to the Treasury from the information that it gets from the census amounts to the equivalent of around £700 million. That far exceeds the costs of the census, but the point that the hon. Gentleman makes is also not valid because the ONS chooses the questions independently. It looks at why the questions are needed, and the answers to them are used to ensure that the billions of pounds of public funds are disbursed on the basis of accurate information.
On the issue of costs, the benefits to the Treasury from the information that it gets from the census amounts to the equivalent of around £700 million. That far exceeds the costs of the census, but the point that the hon. Gentleman makes is also not valid because the ONS chooses the questions independently. It looks at why the questions are needed, and the answers to them are used to ensure that the billions of pounds of public funds are disbursed on the basis of accurate information.
Answered by
Baroness Smith of Basildon
(Labour)
Asked by
Paul Rowen
(Liberal Democrat)
Answering body
Cabinet Office
Type
Oral answers to questions
Given the costs of the census, does the Minister think that including questions on a person's immigration status is a useful use of public funds, when that information can be collected more accurately by other means?
Subjects
Census
Date
9 December 2009
Reference
502 c345
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I think that the hon. Gentleman struggled to find a point to make on this matter. What he suggests is not the case at all: in fact, a comparison of the cost of the census in this country with the cost of that conducted in other countries around the world shows that our census is much more reasonable. It costs about a third of the census in the US, and is significantly less than that conducted in New Zealand, Canada, Australia, Ireland and Scotland. The cost cannot be called excessive, so his point is completely unfounded.
I think that the hon. Gentleman struggled to find a point to make on this matter. What he suggests is not the case at all: in fact, a comparison of the cost of the census in this country with the cost of that conducted in other countries around the world shows that our census is much more reasonable. It costs about a third of the census in the US, and is significantly less than that conducted in New Zealand, Canada, Australia, Ireland and Scotland. The cost cannot be called excessive, so his point is completely unfounded.
Answered by
Baroness Smith of Basildon
(Labour)
Asked by
Stephen Crabb
(Conservative)
Answering body
Cabinet Office
Type
Oral answers to questions
Is not the Government's failure over the last 10 years to monitor correctly the number of people coming into the country one reason why we are facing such an expensive census in 2011?
Subjects
Census
Date
9 December 2009
Reference
502 c345
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Is not the Government's failure over the last 10 years to monitor correctly the number of people coming into the country one reason why we are facing such an expensive census in 2011?
Is not the Government's failure over the last 10 years to monitor correctly the number of people coming into the country one reason why we are facing such an expensive census in 2011?
Asked by
Stephen Crabb
(Conservative)
Answering body
Cabinet Office
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
9 December 2009
I think that the hon. Gentleman struggled to find a point to make on this matter. What he suggests is not the case at all: in fact, a comparison of the cost of the census in this country with the cost of that conducted in other countries around the world shows that our census is much more reasonable. It costs about a third of the census in the US, and is significantly less than that conducted in New Zealand, Canada, Australia, Ireland and Scotland. The cost cannot be called excessive, so his point is completely unfounded.
Subjects
Census
Date
9 December 2009
Reference
502 c345
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I meet the national statistician regularly once every three months, but I have no plans to discuss with her the policy on the publication of statistics by Government Departments. Departments are expected to follow the code of practice for official statistics that is maintained by the independent UK Statistics Authority.
I meet the national statistician regularly once every three months, but I have no plans to discuss with her the policy on the publication of statistics by Government Departments. Departments are expected to follow the code of practice for official statistics that is maintained by the independent UK Statistics Authority.
Answered by
Baroness Smith of Basildon
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Bellingham
(Conservative)
Answering body
Cabinet Office
Type
Oral answers to questions
When she next expects to meet the national statistician to discuss policy on publication of statistics by Government Departments.
Subjects
Census
Date
9 December 2009
Reference
502 c344
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
The cost of the 2011 census in England and Wales is estimated at £482 million, as stated in the White Paper on the census published in December 2008. As I just mentioned, that equates to 87p per person per year.
The cost of the 2011 census in England and Wales is estimated at £482 million, as stated in the White Paper on the census published in December 2008. As I just mentioned, that equates to 87p per person per year.
Answered by
Baroness Smith of Basildon
(Labour)
Asked by
Stephen Crabb
(Conservative)
Answering body
Cabinet Office
Type
Oral answers to questions
What her most recent estimate is of the cost of the 2011 census.
Subjects
Census
Date
9 December 2009
Reference
502 c345
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I thank the Minister for that reply. The ONS has just published the results of the recent census rehearsal, with responses coming in at just 35 per cent., compared with 54 per cent. in 2001. Is not that a major warning sign that the new census is far too long, too intrusive and too much hassle to fill in? Surely the excessive cost of £450 million is totally unacceptable, given the country's parlous finances.
I thank the Minister for that reply. The ONS has just published the results of the recent census rehearsal, with responses coming in at just 35 per cent., compared with 54 per cent. in 2001. Is not that a major warning sign that the new census is far too long, too intrusive and too much hassle to fill in? Surely the excessive cost of £450 million is totally unacceptable, given the country's parlous finances.
Asked by
Lord Bellingham
(Conservative)
Answering body
Cabinet Office
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
9 December 2009
I refute the hon. Gentleman's comments on a number of grounds. First, the census pilots are voluntary, and more resources have been invested to ensure that we get accurate and clear responses from people up and down the country in the 2011 census, because we want the best information possible. Secondly, I also think that the cost of the census, which works out to 87p per person per year, is a reasonable amount to pay for the benefit that the census brings to the country.
Subjects
Census
Date
9 December 2009
Reference
502 c344-5
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Is it not the case that there needs to be public acceptability of the level of detail in the 2011 census? Has my hon. Friend had discussions with Jil Matheson about the level of disaggregated data that will be published, the timetable that will be associated with that, and whether full census form information will be published rather earlier than the present limit of 100 years?
Is it not the case that there needs to be public acceptability of the level of detail in the 2011 census? Has my hon. Friend had discussions with Jil Matheson about the level of disaggregated data that will be published, the timetable that will be associated with that, and whether full census form information will be published rather earlier than the present limit of 100 years?
Asked by
David Leslie Taylor
(Labour; Co-operative Party)
Answering body
Cabinet Office
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
9 December 2009
I have obviously had discussions with the ONS about ensuring public confidence in the census, although I have not had particular discussions about how long information will remain confidential. I think that 100 years is appropriate, but if my hon. Friend wants to write to me about the matter, I will look at it again.
Subjects
Census
Date
9 December 2009
Reference
502 c345
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Given the costs of the census, does the Minister think that including questions on a person's immigration status is a useful use of public funds, when that information can be collected more accurately by other means?
Given the costs of the census, does the Minister think that including questions on a person's immigration status is a useful use of public funds, when that information can be collected more accurately by other means?
Asked by
Paul Rowen
(Liberal Democrat)
Answering body
Cabinet Office
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
9 December 2009
On the issue of costs, the benefits to the Treasury from the information that it gets from the census amounts to the equivalent of around £700 million. That far exceeds the costs of the census, but the point that the hon. Gentleman makes is also not valid because the ONS chooses the questions independently. It looks at why the questions are needed, and the answers to them are used to ensure that the billions of pounds of public funds are disbursed on the basis of accurate information.
Subjects
Census
Date
9 December 2009
Reference
502 c345
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I refute the hon. Gentleman's comments on a number of grounds. First, the census pilots are voluntary, and more resources have been invested to ensure that we get accurate and clear responses from people up and down the country in the 2011 census, because we want the best information possible. Secondly, I also think that the cost of the census, which works out to 87p per person per year, is a reasonable amount to pay for the benefit that the census brings to the country.
I refute the hon. Gentleman's comments on a number of grounds. First, the census pilots are voluntary, and more resources have been invested to ensure that we get accurate and clear responses from people up and down the country in the 2011 census, because we want the best information possible. Secondly, I also think that the cost of the census, which works out to 87p per person per year, is a reasonable amount to pay for the benefit that the census brings to the country.
Answered by
Baroness Smith of Basildon
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Bellingham
(Conservative)
Answering body
Cabinet Office
Type
Oral answers to questions
I thank the Minister for that reply. The ONS has just published the results of the recent census rehearsal, with responses coming in at just 35 per cent., compared with 54 per cent. in 2001. Is not that a major warning sign that the new census is far too long, too intrusive and too much hassle to fill in? Surely the excessive cost of £450 million is totally unacceptable, given the country's parlous finances.
Subjects
Census
Date
9 December 2009
Reference
502 c344-5
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
When she next expects to meet the national statistician to discuss policy on publication of statistics by Government Departments.
When she next expects to meet the national statistician to discuss policy on publication of statistics by Government Departments.
Asked by
Lord Bellingham
(Conservative)
Answered by
Baroness Smith of Basildon
(Labour)
Answering body
Cabinet Office
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Tabled on
3 December 2009
For answer on
9 December 2009
Answered on
9 December 2009
I meet the national statistician regularly once every three months, but I have no plans to discuss with her the policy on the publication of statistics by Government Departments. Departments are expected to follow the code of practice for official statistics that is maintained by the independent UK Statistics Authority.
Subjects
Census
Date
9 December 2009
Reference
502 c344; 304984
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
What her most recent estimate is of the cost of the 2011 census.
What her most recent estimate is of the cost of the 2011 census.
Asked by
Stephen Crabb
(Conservative)
Answered by
Baroness Smith of Basildon
(Labour)
Answering body
Cabinet Office
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Tabled on
3 December 2009
For answer on
9 December 2009
Answered on
9 December 2009
The cost of the 2011 census in England and Wales is estimated at £482 million, as stated in the White Paper on the census published in December 2008. As I just mentioned, that equates to 87p per person per year.
Subjects
Census
Date
9 December 2009
Reference
502 c345; 304987
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
(5) what the (a) marketing, (b) communications and (c) advertising budget is for the 2011 Census;
(5) what the (a) marketing, (b) communications and (c) advertising budget is for the 2011 Census;
Asked by
Nick Hurd
(Conservative)
Answered by
Baroness Smith of Basildon
(Labour)
Answering body
Cabinet Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
24 November 2009
For answer on
26 November 2009
Answered on
3 December 2009
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.Letter from Jil Matheson, dated December 2009:"As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent questions regarding the 2011 Census. I have grouped together the responses to those questions where there are common themes.""(i) The Office of the Information Commissioner was consulted on the preparation of the privacy impact assessment for the 2011 Census. (302264)""(ii) The numbers of Office for National Statistics staff working full time on the 2011 Census are:""(a) media and public relations 9""(b) marketing and publicity 8""(c) communications 6""There is no one in the UK Statistics Authority working full time on the 2011 Census.(302265)""(iii, iv, v) The total budget for communications with the general public (including the marketing and advertising costs) is anticipated to be £16.8 million for the period 2005-2015. This includes all staff and contractor costs. The main contracts are with:""Bray Leino for advertising (including design and media buying) (£10.1 million);""Four Communications (£800,000) and Linstock (£553,000) for other marketing services (including pubic relations and market research);""Elmwood for delivering the branding for the 2011 Census (£139,000);""Big Mouth for online consultancy (£30,000);""together with a number of other smaller contracts. (302269, 302131, 302566)""(vi) (a) In total, adjustments due to errors in the 2001 Census made after publication of the results in September 2002 amounted to 275,000 people—a difference of 0.5 per cent""(b) The non-response rate in the 2001 Census was estimated to be 6.1 per cent of people. Adjustments for this non-response are included in the published results""A report of the assessment of the quality of the 2001 Census in England and Wales in terms of coverage, non-response and response error was published in 2005 and laid before Parliament. A copy is available at:""http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/methodology.asp""(302266)""(vii) The UK Statistics Authority, through its Executive body the Office for National Statistics, plans to undertake both national and local publicity to emphasise the value and importance to the public of the results of the 2011 Census and the legal obligation on the public to provide complete and accurate responses. This publicity will include an active response to any such campaigns. (302267)""(viii, ix) Representations to the Cabinet Office and the UK Statistics Authority from stakeholders on the inclusion of particular questions in the 2011 Census have all been directed to the Office for National Statistics.""The Equalities and Human Rights Commission, and the former bodies that have since been incorporated into it, have made representations to ONS proposing the inclusion of a question relating to sexual identity through:""verbal representations at one of the several Census Advisory Groups set up by ONS to consult regularly with a wide range of stakeholders;""written submissions in response to the programme of consultation on census topics in 2005;""in a letter to ONS in 2008; and""a bilateral meeting with ONS in June 2008""Neither the Cabinet Office nor the UK Statistics Authority (which was only created in 2008) would have received representations on the classification of Sikhs in the 2001 Census, but ONS took account of representations from a number of organisations in considering the inclusion of Sikh and other tick box categories in the religion question. Such organisations included:""Church of England""Inner Cities Religious Council;""Inter-Faith Network for the United Kingdom""Council of Churches for Britain and Ireland""Board of Deputies of British Jews""Network of Buddhist Organisations""Network of Sikh Organisations UK""UK Action Committee on Islamic Affairs""National Council of Hindu Temples, Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe""The Free Church Federal Council""Baha'i Community""(302270, 302284)""(x) There are no plans to place such guidance in the Library. ONS considers any such guidance to be covered by legal and professional privilege, and that its publication may have a detrimental effect on ONS's public responsibilities and may adversely affect any potential prosecution undertaken in respect of anyone refusing to make a census return. (302271)""(xi) Representatives of the Office for National Statistics have been fully involved in discussions with Eurostat to agree a core set of information requirements across the EU in terms of the definitions used, question wording, and the content of statistical outputs for the 2011 round of European censuses.""No proposals have been made to harmonise the way in which such information should be collected. (302272)""(xii) The provisional targets for the 2011 Census are that the overall response rates should be at least as high as that for the 2001 Census (94 per cent), and that the response rates in the lowest 5 per cent of local authorities in 2001 should be increased to at least 80 per cent. These will be reviewed in the light of the 2009 Census rehearsal and reported in the business case for the Census to be published in spring 2010.""Value for money has been assessed in terms of the financial impact that, in the absence of a census, errors in population statistics would have on the national decision making process that the census information supports, including resource allocation from central government to local authorities and primary care trusts, and the investment decisions made by commercial companies relating to store location and product ranges.""The financial benefits realised by the Census significantly outweigh its costs. This is detailed in the Census business case, which has been reviewed by HM Treasury and the Office for Government Commerce.""A précis of this analysis was made available to the Lords Committee on the Merits of Statutory Instruments when it considered the Draft Census Order in October, and published in its 29th Report of the 2008-09 Session on 5 November 2009, a copy of which is available at""http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/Id200809/Idselect/Idmerit/Idmerit.htm""(302273)"
Subjects
Census
Date
3 December 2009
Reference
501 c951-3W; 302566
House
House of Commons
(4) with reference to the written ministerial statement of 21 October 2009, Official Report, columns 55-56WS, on the draft Census (England and Wales) Order 2009, what data sources are being used to populate the central address register; and what use will be made of the central register in (a) England...
(4) with reference to the written ministerial statement of 21 October 2009, Official Report, columns 55-56WS, on the draft Census (England and Wales) Order 2009, what data sources are being used to populate the central address register; and what use will be made of the central register in (a) England...
Asked by
Nick Hurd
(Conservative)
Answered by
Baroness Smith of Basildon
(Labour)
Answering body
Cabinet Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
24 November 2009
For answer on
26 November 2009
Answered on
3 December 2009
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.Letter from Jil Matheson, dated December 2009:"As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent questions regarding the 2011 Census. I have grouped together the responses to those questions where there are common themes.""i) What guarantees or agreements her Department has obtained from the US Administration that the US Administration will not be able to access or monitor Census data stored or processed by Lockheed Martin. 302487""ii) What steps the Minister's Department is taking to ensure that the 2011 Census adopts the Principles of Data Minimisation as recommended by the Thomas and Walport Review of data sharing. 302488""iii) What access Government departments and their agencies will have to non-anonymised personal data collected in the 2011 Census. 302485""iv) With reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 21 October 2009, Official Report, columns 55-56WS, on the Draft Census (England and Wales) Order 2009, what data sources are being used to populate the central address register; and what use will be made of the central register in (a) England and (b) Wales following the 2011 Census. 302490""v) With reference to the Explanatory Note to the Draft Census (England and Wales) Order 2009, what data were taken into account in determining that the provisions of the order would not have an impact on the private or voluntary sector. (302268)""i) In its response to the Treasury Committee's 2008 report on its enquiry into Counting the population, the Government noted that it did not consider it necessary or appropriate to consult the US authorities on this issue.""ONS has put in place rigorous organisational and contractual arrangements for data capture and processing to ensure that personal Census data will remain secure and confidential. The measures in place include:""all Census data is owned by ONS and both Census employees and contractors working on the Census sign a declaration of confidentiality to guarantee their understanding and compliance with the law;""contractual arrangements with Lockheed Martin UK Ltd ensure that only sub-contractors registered and based in the UK and either UK or EU owned will have access to any personal Census data;""no Lockheed Martin staff (from either the US parent or UK company) will have access to any personal Census data; and""all data will be processed in the UK and remain in the UK.""Further details of the arrangements can be found on the National Statistics website at the following links:""http://www.ons.gov.uk/census/2011-census/2011-census-project/commitment-to-confidentiality/index.html""http://www.ons.gov.uk/census/2011-census/2011-census-project/census-data-security-measures/index.html""http://www.ons.gov.uk/census/2011-census/2011-census-project/census-data-confidentiality-and-uk-law/index.html""As has become the practice for previous censuses an independent review of the security and confidentiality arrangements covering the collection and processing of census questionnaires will be carried out before the Census. (302487)""ii, iii) The measures that it has put in place to safeguard and maintain the confidentiality of personal census information (and which are set out in Chapter 6 of the Government's White Paper Helping to shape tomorrow) comply fully with the recommendations of the Data Sharing Review and, at the same time, the relevant legislation to protect such confidentiality.""All personal census information is protected generally from unlawful disclosure by the provision of the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007, and there is a long-standing policy, reaffirmed in the White Paper to make this available for public access only after 100 years.""No government departments or agencies will have access to non-anonymised census data. (302488 & 302485)""iv) ONS has agreed a national data sharing agreement with Local Government Information House (the National Land and Property Gazetteer supplier), the Royal Mail and Ordnance Survey as well as checking the resulting address list against Valuation Office Agency data.""ONS will cross-match the address lists received from the respective bodies and ask the address list suppliers and local authorities to help to resolve any mismatches and queries.""The data sharing agreement covers uses only for the 2011 Census. However, in developing the matching and verification processes, ONS has been mindful of the need to try to ensure that these processes could be reused in other circumstances. (302490)""v) No specific data were analysed in coming to the decision that the census would not impact on the private or voluntary sector. ONS explained the reasoning for this decision in section 10 of the Explanatory Memorandum, which states:"""The impact on business, charities or voluntary bodies of this legislation is considered to be minimal. This is because the purpose of the Census is not to collect business data, and the only impact on business will be asking persons in charge of commercial communal establishments, to make a return in respect of the establishment and of any residents or inmates residing within their premises, who are unable to make a return for themselves."""As no business or voluntary body is required to undertake any duty that ONS believes might prove either detrimental to their work, might significantly delay their normal day-to-day business or place any additional cost upon them, other than asking the manager of any commercial establishment to hand out and collect questionnaires to any usual residents and then complete a short questionnaire in respect of their establishment, ONS believes that the 2011 Census impact on the private or voluntary sector will be minimal.""ONS took advice from the Better Regulations Unit, now part of the Department for Business, Innovations and Skills on this matter. (302268)"
Subjects
Census
Date
3 December 2009
Reference
501 c959-60W; 302490
House
House of Commons
(7) what the cost to the public purse was of the (a) 1991 Census and (b) 2001 Census in (i) cash terms and (ii) real terms in 2009 prices.
(7) what the cost to the public purse was of the (a) 1991 Census and (b) 2001 Census in (i) cash terms and (ii) real terms in 2009 prices.
Asked by
Nick Hurd
(Conservative)
Answered by
Baroness Smith of Basildon
(Labour)
Answering body
Cabinet Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
24 November 2009
For answer on
26 November 2009
Answered on
3 December 2009
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.Letter from Jil Matheson, dated December 2009:"As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent questions regarding the 2011 Census. I have grouped together the responses to those questions where there are common themes.""i) What the minimum duration of stay is that will require an individual to register as an overnight guest, including name, sex and date of birth in the 2011 Census; whether overnight guests who are children will be required to register; whether guests at a house party will be required to register; and what personal liability householders will have should overnight guests refuse to disclose personal information. 302427""ii) Whether hotels and bed and breakfast establishments will be required to register their overnight guests, including information on name, sex and date of birth, for the 2011 Census. 302454""iii) How many pages long were the (a) individual and (b) household forms in each of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland for the (i) 1991 Census and (ii) 2001 Census; and what the estimated page length is for each of those in the 2011 Census based on the (A) Census Rehearsal and (B) subsequent planning. 302428""iv) What the estimated error rate is for the 2011 Census exercise in relation to the questions on the number of bedrooms; and whether the information on the number of bedrooms will be cross-referenced with any other dataset separate from the 2011 Census. 302429""v) How much and what proportion of the budget for the 2011 Census had (a) been spent, (b) been allocated for expenditure and (b) not been allocated on the latest date for which figures are available. 302281""vi) What assessment she has made of the reasons for the difference between the cost of the 2011 Census and the cost of the 2001 Census. 302283""vii) What the cost to the public purse was of the (a) 1991 Census and (b) 2001 Census in (i) cash terms and (ii) real terms in 2009 prices. 302489""i,ii)As in all previous censuses (but with the exception of 2001) in addition to recording information for all usual residents at an address on census night, householders are required to record the details of any non-resident persons present on census night, including children and house party guests if they stay overnight. In these previous censuses the same set of information as collected from usual residents has been required from such visitors; for 2011, however, only the limited set of four questions will be asked to reduce the burden.""The minimum duration of stay that will require an individual to be recorded as a visitor is the night of Sunday 27 March 2011.""Subject to Parliamentary approval of the secondary legislation for the 2011 Census, the householder is legally liable to ensure that a complete return is made in respect of every resident and visitor present on census night. However, it would be an offence for anyone present in a household on census night to refuse to provide the relevant information to the householder.""Managers of hotels, bed and breakfast establishments, and guest houses that can only accommodate fewer than ten guests are required to record the visitor information for overnight guests. However, managers of such premises that can accommodate ten or more guests are required only to record the number of any visitors staying overnight. No details of such visitors will be recorded. (302427, 302454)""iii) The household form for the 2011 Census in England and Wales will comprise four pages of questions relating to the household itself, four pages of questions for each household member with space for up to six household members, and an additional page available to record some information about visitors. The form also contains three pages of notes and instructions to assist the form filler, amounting to 32 pages in total.""The form is thus the same length as used in the Census Rehearsal, and is 12 pages more than the 2001 form. While the inclusion of some of additional questions has lengthened the form, a more significant factor in its increased size is its redesign in order to:""accommodate an additional household member so as to reduce the number of continuation forms required for larger households; and""make it easier to complete, specifically by introducing two columns of questions per page instead of the three adopted in 2001 and an additional page of notes and instructions.""The 1991 household form comprised 12 pages but was in a completely different matrix format and printed in a smaller font.""The individual person form for 2011 contains four pages of questions plus three pages of notes and instructions, compared with three and a half pages of questions and half a page of notes in both the 2001 and 1991 Censuses.""The census is a devolved matter in Scotland and Northern Ireland, but I understand from the respective Registrars General that the intention is that the 2011 Census questionnaires there should be of a similar length, except that, because of the smaller average household size the household form in Scotland will accommodate only five household members.(302428)""iv) In a postal test including a random sample of 10,000 households in Spring 2009 the question on number of bedrooms was completed by 98.1 per cent of respondents. Testing of the question with individual respondents has not raised any significant quality concerns about their ability or willingness to complete this question accurately.""Data at the individual household record level will not be disclosed or cross-referenced with any other data sources.""Statistics from the question on bedrooms will be used by the Department for Communities and Local Government as a measure of overcrowding to support the measurement of one of its strategic objectives "to improve the supply, environmental performance and quality of housing that is more responsive to the needs of individuals, communities and the economy".""There are two standards previously used to inform whether or not a home is statutorily overcrowded, the 'space standard' and the 'room standard', Government amendments to the 2004 Housing Act provide for the standards to be amended to include a 'bedroom standard'. Its use in helping to measure the number of people living in overcrowded accommodation is set out in the 2007 CLG Action Plan Tackling overcrowding in England, which can be found at""http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/Overcrowdinqactionplan""(302429)""v,vi,vii) As published in December 2008 in the Government's White Paper Helping to shape tomorrow, the total estimated budget for the 2011 Census is £482 million, of which £450 million has already been agreed, and £32 million is still subject to future spending reviews.""All of the budget that is already agreed has been allocated, with around 20 per cent already spent and a further 50 per cent committed to fixed price contracts.""The cost of the 2011 Census has been analysed in the full business case referred to above. The difference between this and the cost of the 2001 Census is mainly due to:""inflation""growth in population and the number of households""the development of a comprehensive national address register""the development of a questionnaire tracking system""the inclusion of an additional page of questions per person""the development of an online questionnaire completion system""more intensive follow-up in areas with low initial response""The total costs of the 1991 and 2001 Censuses were £117 million and £207 million respectively. To create costs for the 1991 and 2001 Censuses that are comparable to the 2011 Census it is necessary to take into account:""the growth in the population""general inflation""wage inflation for field staff salary costs""Taking these factors into account, equivalent comparators to the 2011 Census cost of £482m are estimated to be £305m for the 1991 Census and £350m for the 2001 Census. (302281, 302283, 302489)"
Subjects
Census
Date
3 December 2009
Reference
501 c956-8W; 302489
House
House of Commons
(4) what the monetary value is of the Office for National Statistics' contract with Elmwood to develop branding for the 2011 census;
(4) what the monetary value is of the Office for National Statistics' contract with Elmwood to develop branding for the 2011 census;
Asked by
Nick Hurd
(Conservative)
Answered by
Baroness Smith of Basildon
(Labour)
Answering body
Cabinet Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
24 November 2009
For answer on
26 November 2009
Answered on
3 December 2009
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.Letter from Jil Matheson, dated December 2009:"As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent questions regarding the 2011 Census. I have grouped together the responses to those questions where there are common themes.""(i) The Office of the Information Commissioner was consulted on the preparation of the privacy impact assessment for the 2011 Census. (302264)""(ii) The numbers of Office for National Statistics staff working full time on the 2011 Census are:""(a) media and public relations 9""(b) marketing and publicity 8""(c) communications 6""There is no one in the UK Statistics Authority working full time on the 2011 Census.(302265)""(iii, iv, v) The total budget for communications with the general public (including the marketing and advertising costs) is anticipated to be £16.8 million for the period 2005-2015. This includes all staff and contractor costs. The main contracts are with:""Bray Leino for advertising (including design and media buying) (£10.1 million);""Four Communications (£800,000) and Linstock (£553,000) for other marketing services (including pubic relations and market research);""Elmwood for delivering the branding for the 2011 Census (£139,000);""Big Mouth for online consultancy (£30,000);""together with a number of other smaller contracts. (302269, 302131, 302566)""(vi) (a) In total, adjustments due to errors in the 2001 Census made after publication of the results in September 2002 amounted to 275,000 people—a difference of 0.5 per cent""(b) The non-response rate in the 2001 Census was estimated to be 6.1 per cent of people. Adjustments for this non-response are included in the published results""A report of the assessment of the quality of the 2001 Census in England and Wales in terms of coverage, non-response and response error was published in 2005 and laid before Parliament. A copy is available at:""http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/methodology.asp""(302266)""(vii) The UK Statistics Authority, through its Executive body the Office for National Statistics, plans to undertake both national and local publicity to emphasise the value and importance to the public of the results of the 2011 Census and the legal obligation on the public to provide complete and accurate responses. This publicity will include an active response to any such campaigns. (302267)""(viii, ix) Representations to the Cabinet Office and the UK Statistics Authority from stakeholders on the inclusion of particular questions in the 2011 Census have all been directed to the Office for National Statistics.""The Equalities and Human Rights Commission, and the former bodies that have since been incorporated into it, have made representations to ONS proposing the inclusion of a question relating to sexual identity through:""verbal representations at one of the several Census Advisory Groups set up by ONS to consult regularly with a wide range of stakeholders;""written submissions in response to the programme of consultation on census topics in 2005;""in a letter to ONS in 2008; and""a bilateral meeting with ONS in June 2008""Neither the Cabinet Office nor the UK Statistics Authority (which was only created in 2008) would have received representations on the classification of Sikhs in the 2001 Census, but ONS took account of representations from a number of organisations in considering the inclusion of Sikh and other tick box categories in the religion question. Such organisations included:""Church of England""Inner Cities Religious Council;""Inter-Faith Network for the United Kingdom""Council of Churches for Britain and Ireland""Board of Deputies of British Jews""Network of Buddhist Organisations""Network of Sikh Organisations UK""UK Action Committee on Islamic Affairs""National Council of Hindu Temples, Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe""The Free Church Federal Council""Baha'i Community""(302270, 302284)""(x) There are no plans to place such guidance in the Library. ONS considers any such guidance to be covered by legal and professional privilege, and that its publication may have a detrimental effect on ONS's public responsibilities and may adversely affect any potential prosecution undertaken in respect of anyone refusing to make a census return. (302271)""(xi) Representatives of the Office for National Statistics have been fully involved in discussions with Eurostat to agree a core set of information requirements across the EU in terms of the definitions used, question wording, and the content of statistical outputs for the 2011 round of European censuses.""No proposals have been made to harmonise the way in which such information should be collected. (302272)""(xii) The provisional targets for the 2011 Census are that the overall response rates should be at least as high as that for the 2001 Census (94 per cent), and that the response rates in the lowest 5 per cent of local authorities in 2001 should be increased to at least 80 per cent. These will be reviewed in the light of the 2009 Census rehearsal and reported in the business case for the Census to be published in spring 2010.""Value for money has been assessed in terms of the financial impact that, in the absence of a census, errors in population statistics would have on the national decision making process that the census information supports, including resource allocation from central government to local authorities and primary care trusts, and the investment decisions made by commercial companies relating to store location and product ranges.""The financial benefits realised by the Census significantly outweigh its costs. This is detailed in the Census business case, which has been reviewed by HM Treasury and the Office for Government Commerce.""A précis of this analysis was made available to the Lords Committee on the Merits of Statutory Instruments when it considered the Draft Census Order in October, and published in its 29th Report of the 2008-09 Session on 5 November 2009, a copy of which is available at""http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/Id200809/Idselect/Idmerit/Idmerit.htm""(302273)"
Subjects
Census
Date
3 December 2009
Reference
501 c951-3W; 302131
House
House of Commons
(10) if she will place in the Library a copy of the (a) guidance issued in the 2001 Census and (b) draft guidance to be issued in respect of the 2011 Census on the application of the provisions of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act in communications with residents who...
(10) if she will place in the Library a copy of the (a) guidance issued in the 2001 Census and (b) draft guidance to be issued in respect of the 2011 Census on the application of the provisions of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act in communications with residents who...
Asked by
Nick Hurd
(Conservative)
Answered by
Baroness Smith of Basildon
(Labour)
Answering body
Cabinet Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
24 November 2009
For answer on
26 November 2009
Answered on
3 December 2009
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.Letter from Jil Matheson, dated December 2009:"As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent questions regarding the 2011 Census. I have grouped together the responses to those questions where there are common themes.""(i) The Office of the Information Commissioner was consulted on the preparation of the privacy impact assessment for the 2011 Census. (302264)""(ii) The numbers of Office for National Statistics staff working full time on the 2011 Census are:""(a) media and public relations 9""(b) marketing and publicity 8""(c) communications 6""There is no one in the UK Statistics Authority working full time on the 2011 Census.(302265)""(iii, iv, v) The total budget for communications with the general public (including the marketing and advertising costs) is anticipated to be £16.8 million for the period 2005-2015. This includes all staff and contractor costs. The main contracts are with:""Bray Leino for advertising (including design and media buying) (£10.1 million);""Four Communications (£800,000) and Linstock (£553,000) for other marketing services (including pubic relations and market research);""Elmwood for delivering the branding for the 2011 Census (£139,000);""Big Mouth for online consultancy (£30,000);""together with a number of other smaller contracts. (302269, 302131, 302566)""(vi) (a) In total, adjustments due to errors in the 2001 Census made after publication of the results in September 2002 amounted to 275,000 people—a difference of 0.5 per cent""(b) The non-response rate in the 2001 Census was estimated to be 6.1 per cent of people. Adjustments for this non-response are included in the published results""A report of the assessment of the quality of the 2001 Census in England and Wales in terms of coverage, non-response and response error was published in 2005 and laid before Parliament. A copy is available at:""http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/methodology.asp""(302266)""(vii) The UK Statistics Authority, through its Executive body the Office for National Statistics, plans to undertake both national and local publicity to emphasise the value and importance to the public of the results of the 2011 Census and the legal obligation on the public to provide complete and accurate responses. This publicity will include an active response to any such campaigns. (302267)""(viii, ix) Representations to the Cabinet Office and the UK Statistics Authority from stakeholders on the inclusion of particular questions in the 2011 Census have all been directed to the Office for National Statistics.""The Equalities and Human Rights Commission, and the former bodies that have since been incorporated into it, have made representations to ONS proposing the inclusion of a question relating to sexual identity through:""verbal representations at one of the several Census Advisory Groups set up by ONS to consult regularly with a wide range of stakeholders;""written submissions in response to the programme of consultation on census topics in 2005;""in a letter to ONS in 2008; and""a bilateral meeting with ONS in June 2008""Neither the Cabinet Office nor the UK Statistics Authority (which was only created in 2008) would have received representations on the classification of Sikhs in the 2001 Census, but ONS took account of representations from a number of organisations in considering the inclusion of Sikh and other tick box categories in the religion question. Such organisations included:""Church of England""Inner Cities Religious Council;""Inter-Faith Network for the United Kingdom""Council of Churches for Britain and Ireland""Board of Deputies of British Jews""Network of Buddhist Organisations""Network of Sikh Organisations UK""UK Action Committee on Islamic Affairs""National Council of Hindu Temples, Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe""The Free Church Federal Council""Baha'i Community""(302270, 302284)""(x) There are no plans to place such guidance in the Library. ONS considers any such guidance to be covered by legal and professional privilege, and that its publication may have a detrimental effect on ONS's public responsibilities and may adversely affect any potential prosecution undertaken in respect of anyone refusing to make a census return. (302271)""(xi) Representatives of the Office for National Statistics have been fully involved in discussions with Eurostat to agree a core set of information requirements across the EU in terms of the definitions used, question wording, and the content of statistical outputs for the 2011 round of European censuses.""No proposals have been made to harmonise the way in which such information should be collected. (302272)""(xii) The provisional targets for the 2011 Census are that the overall response rates should be at least as high as that for the 2001 Census (94 per cent), and that the response rates in the lowest 5 per cent of local authorities in 2001 should be increased to at least 80 per cent. These will be reviewed in the light of the 2009 Census rehearsal and reported in the business case for the Census to be published in spring 2010.""Value for money has been assessed in terms of the financial impact that, in the absence of a census, errors in population statistics would have on the national decision making process that the census information supports, including resource allocation from central government to local authorities and primary care trusts, and the investment decisions made by commercial companies relating to store location and product ranges.""The financial benefits realised by the Census significantly outweigh its costs. This is detailed in the Census business case, which has been reviewed by HM Treasury and the Office for Government Commerce.""A précis of this analysis was made available to the Lords Committee on the Merits of Statutory Instruments when it considered the Draft Census Order in October, and published in its 29th Report of the 2008-09 Session on 5 November 2009, a copy of which is available at""http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/Id200809/Idselect/Idmerit/Idmerit.htm""(302273)"
Subjects
Census
Date
3 December 2009
Reference
501 c951-3W; 302271
House
House of Commons