SUMMARY:
THE STORY SO FAR
1 Though disappointed at the unsatisfactory way 2001 data was handled by many (- in particular through the submerging of 'Irish' in 'White' data), and regarding this as a missed opportunity, FIS have continued to campaign for a break down of 2001 data by the full set of Ethnic question categories, including the 'Irish' category.
2 While reiterating our concerns at every opportunity, FIS has liaised closely with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) throughout the period of consultation leading up to Census 2011. We have responded to all the major consultations as to the content of the Census paper and concerning the outcomes we hope for from the processed data.
3 We have also been members of one of the advisory groups set up to advise ONS on aspects of Census 2011 - the Diversity Advisory Group; and have attended and contributed to all meetings of that group.
4
We have
regularly briefed our members on the developments with regard to Census 2011. Copies of previous briefings are on the FIS
website in the Policy section (see menu on left).
5
From now
on in to the actual taking of the Census on 27 March 2011 we shall be seeking
to raise the profile of the Census among the Irish communities in Britain
and to work with ONS Community Liaison to make the Census a success..
CENSUS TIMETABLE (From now onwards)
| 2008 November | Topics for 2011 Census announced in White Paper |
| 2009 Spring | Whole-of-questionnaire testing |
| 2009 11 October | Census rehearsal England & Wales
|
| 2010 January | Questionnaires for 2011 Census finalised |
| 2010 Spring | Census questionnaires approved by parliament |
| 2011 27 March | Census day |
THE
2011 CENSUS WILL BE A POST-OUT CENSUS
- This will be largely a post-out census, unlike 2001 Census, which was hand delivered.
- There will be a phone-in facility for advice on completion of form.
- The will be an on-line facility for completion of Census form.
- There will be personal delivery of forms to certain institutions like care homes.
- Main personal contact will be reserved for follow-up on non-returns.
- We have drawn ONS's attention to the implications of a post-out Census for those who may be homeless or lack a permanent/conventional address.
- Considerable effort is being invested by ONS in assembling an accurate and comprehensive address database; significant partners of ONS here are Local Authorities.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Census data is confidential for one hundred years after the Census has been taken. For a number of reasons, ONS is devoting much more attention, in the lead-up to Census 2011, to satisfying the concerns of the public regarding the confidential nature of the census data, and in explaining the processes adopted to ensure security, and to prevent any individual being identified from the published tables.
NEW QUESTIONS
In the course of previous briefings we have informed you about a number of new questions which will appear on the Census form. We have now received the form of these questions which will be used in Census rehearsal of October 2009. General questions are set out first of all, in this section. Then the identity questions (Citizenship, National identity, and Ethnicity) are set out in the next section.
Second Residences
There were significant differences between local authorities and ONS as to what the total population of a number of areas should be, following the 2001 Census. This led to criticism of ONS - especially by local authorities whose grants from local government were adversely affected by what local authorities considered to be incorrect counting. ONS believe that this counting of second residences will enable them to count populations more accurately, through a reduction of double counting of individuals. As mentioned above, ONS are also developing a more accurate and up-to-date address base which will allow them to count more accurately also.
Number of bedrooms
Type of central heating
H10 and H 11 above are
new questions being trialled to replace those used in 2001 and previously to access
the quality of life for households, around overcrowding, amenities, etc.
Long term illness, disability
This is a change from the question asked in 2001. Since the question was being modified, we and other members of the Diversity Advisory Group favoured a question which would tell us more about the type(s) of disability being experienced. However, ONS rejected this on the grounds of space/cost, and also the possibility of obtaining such data from other sources.
Marital/Civil Partnership Status
This questions brings
the pre-existing marital status question up to date following the introduction
of civil partnerships.
In addition to the existing country-of-birth question, a number of new and related questions will be asked, as follows:
Month/year of entry into UK
Intended length of stay in the UK
IDENTITY QUESTIONS: CITIZENSHIP (Qn. 11), NATIONAL IDENTITY (Qn. 15), ETHNICITY (Qn. 16)
Citizenship
Question 11 was
introduced quite late in the consultation process, at the request of the EU for
whom this type of data is/has been important. With the expansion of the EU and
growth of migration from accession states it becomes a higher priority for the
British government also.
With regard to
Questions 15 and 16 below, those on National
identity and Ethnicity, FIS has
made strong representation from the start of Census 2011 consultations. The
versions we have now are as good as we are likely to get, and substantial
improvements on what was originally proposed, although we have questioned the
inclusion of 'Northern Irish' and the conjoining of 'Gypsy' and 'Irish
Traveller' in 16 A.
National identity and ethnicity
One of the issues on
which we have campaigned since Census 2001, when the mixed categories were
introduced, was the opportunity for people of Irish ancestry, but of mixed
ethnicity (e.g. Irish and Turkish, Irish and Welsh, Irish and African, etc.),
to declare their mixed ethnicity. We
welcome therefore the opportunity that now exists to do this under the write in
option of Section 16 B, 'Any other Mixed/multiple ethnic background'. In the Census campaign leading up to the
taking of the Census, agencies and the organised Irish community really need to
make it clear to as wide a public as possible that this opportunity exists.