More on 2021 census

I carried a story yesterday (http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/scotland-to-have-2021-census.html) that the Scottish census is now being prepared for in 2021 as an online afair, and in the NRS statement there was mention that England and Wales were doing similar. I've just received the following from the Federation of Family History Societies (www.ffhs.org.uk), a note from Ian Cope, Director of Population and Demography Directorate about recommendations by the National Statistician for England and Wales, Jil Matheson, on the way forward for census and population statistics south of the border.

These are the recommendations:

• An online census of all households and communal establishments in England and Wales in 2021 as a modern successor to the traditional, paper-based decennial census. ONS recognises that special care would need to be taken to support those who are unable to complete the census online.

This would be combined with:

Increased use of administrative data and surveys in order to enhance the statistics from the 2021 Census and improve annual statistics between censuses.

• Together these would make the best use of all available data to provide the population statistics which England and Wales require and offer a springboard to the greater use of administrative data and annual surveys in the future.
• Further research is to be carried out over the coming months and years to determine the most appropriate blend of methods and data sources.

Full details are available at file:///H:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Chris/My%20Documents/Downloads/thecensusandfutureprovisionofpopulationstatisticsinenglandandwalesrecommendation2603_tcm77-358009.pdf

Interestingly, the message notes "The Government will respond in due course" - so perhaps not quite 100% there yet in England and Wales, though it does now seem likely to happen.

The devolved administrations in Scotland and Northern Ireland have responsibility for our censuses in the rest of the UK - I'm not sure that Northern Ireland has announced its plans yet.

(With thanks to Beryl Evans)

Chris

Time to find your inner Irish...! All the best online Irish genealogy resources can be found through my book Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet - in print and ebook formats. "Very useful, makes me wish I was Irish!" - Saint Patrick, patron saint.