Consultations
The investment of time and resources in a national census can only be justified if the results are accessible to users and meet their needs. This involves wide consultation in accordance with the principles and practices set out in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. Work on the census will also be carried out in accordance with the guidance provided in the Protocol on Customer Services and User Consultation, which was one of twelve protocols originally published to support the principles set out in the previous National Statistics Code of Practice.
Consultations to date
Consultations have so far covered the content of the questionnaire (with further consultation on the topics of ethnic group, national identity, religion and language) and the geographical areas to be used for output. We have published responses to these consultations having received around 2,000 views expressed by almost 500 users. These have been evaluated and the details, together with an updated ONS view on possible census content, are available to download from this page.
For further information on the consultation exercise on the questionnaire content of the 2011 Census please email:
Future consultation on outputs
Consultation on the 2011 census is now focusing on outputs with a series of launch events organised at various locations in England and Wales. These events will formally start the consultation process on outputs, by explaining our plans and vision to users and stakeholders. Topics to be included are:
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Output strategy
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Disclosure control methods
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Dissemination plans
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Output geographies
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Output content
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Future consultation procedures on outputs
More information and how to register for these events are available from the ‘planned events’ link on the left hand side of this page.
Following the launch events, users will be given the opportunity to become involved in more direct consultation on specific topics, such as specifying the statisitcal outputs to be published and defining their geographies.
These consultation exercises will run from November 2009 through to the middle of 2010. Since the launch events have limited capacity, users who are unable to take part will be invited to attend subsequent rounds of consultation.
Give us your views
Consultation activities include specific arrangements for users to submit comments for review and further discussion. However, Census Customer Services welcomes comments on any aspect of the census at any time from individuals, communities, user groups and organisations. These will be considered and responded to by the relevant specialists.
