The 2011 Census programme
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) designs, manages and runs the census in England and Wales. The General Register Office Scotland (GROS) and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) are responsible for the census in Scotland and Northern Ireland. All three have agreed to conduct their 2011 censuses on the same day in order to produce consistent and coherent information that covers the whole of the UK.
Early research within the programme confirmed the unique value and continuing need for the sort of information that has traditionally been collected in the census and that a census is the only viable option for collecting such data in 2011.
A test of the data collection process took place in 2007 and a rehearsal in three local authorities areas in October 2009 will test all the plans, systems and processes for 2011.
ONS is working with local authorities and community groups to make sure the 2011 Census accounts for population diversity: special attention is being paid to hard-to-count, under-represented groups, including:
-
disabled and/or very elderly people
-
ethnic minority groups
-
faith communities
-
migrants
-
non-English speaking people
-
unemployed people
-
people on low income
-
students and other young adults
-
gypsy, traveller and other groups where response has historically been low
