You asked
Which companies are providing the technology in 2021 for the gathering, collating and sharing of information obtained through the 2021 National Census?
Are these companies paying to hold that position or are they being paid for that position?
If they are being paid from the public purse, how much are they being paid and over what period of time?
We said
Thank you for your request.
We are working with a number of suppliers to help deliver the 2021 Census. A list of the contracts awarded so far is available from: https://www.ons.gov.uk/census/censustransformationprogramme/2021censussuppliers
Leidos UK is providing an integrated service to support the printing, post out, data capture, coding (paper and residual), storage and disposal services for all paper questionnaires (2019 Rehearsal / 2021 Census). The estimated contract value is circa £65 million.
Companies do not pay us to hold positions to supply services for the 2021 Census.
Arrangements for the outsourcing of services (for example recruitment and training of staff, printing and postal services), include the specification of requirements, evaluation and award of contracts. All these arrangements are conducted in accordance with government procurement standards, promulgated by Crown Commercial Services or in specific government frameworks. Confidentiality requirements are specified in the terms and conditions set out in individual contracts.
The Government published a White Paper ('Help Shape Our Future: The 2021 Census of Population and Housing in England and Wales') in December 2018, which sets out the UK Statistics Authority's proposals for the conduct and content of the 2021 Census. Chapters 4.101 to 4.105 cover "Working with external partners in the delivery of the census operation".