Census 2011 - frequently asked questions  

Your questions answered  

• What do I have to do? 

  You should receive your Census form through the post in March and need to complete it either online or by hand, if completed by hand the form needs to be returned in the post using the enclosed prepaid envelope.
  
  It should not take longer than 20 minutes - you only have to complete it every 10 years.

   

• What information does the local Council receive? 

  The information collected is collated into statistics about the communities in the borough. All personal information is confidential and is not passed to the Council but the Council will use anonymous statistics to plan future services to meet needs and requirements.

   

• What happens if I do not fill in the questionnaire? 

  Everyone is required by law to fill in the questionnaire and failure to do so could result in prosecution.
  
  If you do not complete it Census staff will visit you in April to remind you to complete it. If you fail to do so you could be prosecuted.
  
  It is estimated each lost form equates to approximately £5,000 lost funding for the local authority and other services, if a large number of people do not complete their form this could have catastrophic repercussions for the area and could severely restrict the services available in the future.

   

• Why do I need to complete the census form? 

  • More money from Central Government - the money we receive from central government is based on the number and type of people living in the local authority. The more people we count on census day the more money we receive and the more that can be spent on improving the borough.
  • Better service planning - if we know who is living in the borough and their needs we can plan the services we need to provide to meet your future needs - schools, hospitals, childcare, transport and lots more…
  • Unlock history - In 100 years from now, a copy of your census questionnaire will go public and your future generations will be able to research the history of the family - so make sure you have your spot on the 'family tree'

   

• What happens if I am not at home on the 27 March 2011? 

  If you know you are going to be away from home, either complete your form early prior to going away, (if you have received it) or as soon as you return.
  

   

• Can I fill in my questionnaire on-line? 

  Yes, but you will need to have received your Census form via the post before you can access the form online. There is a Personal Access code on the top right of the form and this is needed to access your form online.
  
  Full instructions are available on the Census website.

   

• Is it secure online? 

  All personal information will be kept confidential and is protected by law. On line completion is secure and only you can access and complete your online questionnaire. You can only access the form with your unique internet access code, this is like a pin number - so never pass this onto anyone.

   

• What do I do with the paper copy if I have completed my census form online? 

  If you have completed your form online, please carefully remove the address box and internet access code and destroy. The remaining census questionnaire can then by recycled.

   

• How many questions are there on the form? 

  There are 56 questions in total and they are in three sections, but most don't apply to everyone:

   

• Does everyone have to complete the questionnaire or just the head of the household 

  Everyone who lives in the house must be included on the questionnaire but it is the householder's or joint householder's responsibility to complete the form. The householder is the person who owns or rents the accommodation and is responsible for paying the bills.

   

• I share a house with others and do not want them seeing my personal information. 

  You can request a privacy envelope from the helpline.

   

• If I complete my form before or after census day, should I include the visitors to my house on the day I am completing the form? 

  No, you should only include overnight visitors to your house on the 27 March.

   

• Does my form have to be sent back on the 27 March? 

  No, you can complete it as soon as you receive it.

   

• What  should I do if I live in a communal establishment, such as a residential home, hotel, hostel, university halls of residence, boarding school or hospital? 

  If on the 27 March 2011 you have lived in a communal establishment for 6 months or more you will be given a questionnaire to complete by someone, such as the manager of your organisation. You need to complete the questionnaire and return it to the manager in the sealed envelope provided.
  
  If you are only temporarily away from home (less than a year) you must also be included on the questionnaire at your home address.
  

   

• I have a disability and it is difficult for me to complete my form. Who can I ask to help me?  And who can I contact for further information and help?  

  • Ask a family member, friend or carer to help.
  • You can bring your form along to a Census event details of which can be found in 'The News' or online at the council website. These events are manned by Census staff who will be able to assist you.
  • Contact the helpline at the Census website or call 0300 0201 101 - help is available in 58 languages, large print, Braille, video and audio assistance.
    If you are housebound you can request a home visit via the helpline
  • Text relay (for those with hearing impairment) - 18001 0300 0201 160

   

• What should I do if I can complete my form but am unable to post it? 

  If you are unable to post the form because of a disability or you are housebound you can telephone the Census Helpline and request that your form is collected by Census staff who will post it for you, this can be requested by phoning the Census Helpline.
  

   

• Is there anything I should be aware of if I am helping someone  

  If you are assisting someone to complete their form you should be aware that confidentiality of the census is protected by law. Anybody who reveals census   information is breaking the law. This applies to everybody in the country, not just census staff.
  
  Anybody can help any other person to complete their census questionnaire provided permission is given, but they can not repeat or use any personal census information, to anybody, at any time, ever.
  
  As well as  being illegal it is likely to breach the trust that a friend or member of your family has in you if you share personal information about them . This  includes keeping records of the people that you help.

   

• What if I am helping someone to complete their form, can I post it? 

  Returning a questionnaire is defined in law as either posting it back to the ONS freepost address printed on the questionnaire, completing it and submitting it online, or handing it to an authorised ONS employee. If you help people to complete their questionnaire they should then seal the envelope and post it back themselves.
  
  You should not offer to collect any questionnaires, as if you do; you become legally responsible for the questionnaires as soon as you take possession of them.  If the person is housebound you can request via the Helpline, to have the form collected.