Who When Where

Here is the latest news on the census for England and Wales:-

https://www.ons.gov.uk/news/statementsa ... oronavirus

It will be interesting (it is a voluntary question and so it should be) who will fill in Question 26 in the individual questionnaires forms on their sexuality given that most people don't trust Government will keep the information safe and secure.

https://www.ons.gov.uk/census/censustra ... tionnaires

This may all fall if we are still subject to Coronavirus restrictions at the end of March 2021!.

This (the sex question) has now arisen in a court case today pending a full hearing, alas a number of people have now filled in the online version even though the actual date has not arrived, I shall await the day!.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/swif ... 23116.html

Well, we have recently received a leaflet through the post with the census instructions.
It's intriguing that we are instructed to include people who usually live here, even if they are away from home on the night.
If that person is visiting someone else overnight, they should be included as a visitor at that place. Under lockdown, I suppose there won't be many such instances, but it does demonstrate how we occasionally find our ancestors in two different houses on census night - not always noted as a visitor in one of them.

I have high hopes that my latest grandchild will be born in time to appear on my son's census return, aged 0!

Fingers crossed Devonliz

I might have misunderstood but did I read we are to include anyone who normally lives at the address but is away temporarily and anyone just visiting? If that’s the case then won’t some people be on two forms?

I suppose that ONS need that information about people who are away from the address on the day is because (the Government says) that the Census is for them to know how many people live at such an address normally so that know about services that need to be budgeted for, if that is the case why do they need our names?. I have been cynical for some years about the recent Censuses, but I still do my duty and fill it in. 'In the old days' it was of course where people were on Census night, hence I found one of my ancestors not at home but guarding the factory by himself in Leith at Midnight.

This explains what the 2021 census is supposed to be about. I still have doubts about the secrecy issues and will ONS have access in 100 years' time on some obsolete machine?. Paper is much better, it lasts for many hundreds of years!.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-55935409

Having just completed my own return, I was surprised to find that there seems no facility provided, for downloading a copy of one's answers, (as a record for future generations, to save them having to wait 100 years ), something I did for the 2011 census.

Now, all you get, is a confirming e-mail that you have completed the return, and even then only if you specifically ask for it!

Or have I missed something?

The current Census is estimated to be costing around £1 bn, an astonishing amount, especially given that the Government can't afford to give nurses a decent pay rise. In my view the Census has outlived its purpose and should be consigned to history.

https://inews.co.uk/news/uk/census-uk-2 ... ned-396910

What a mess, sending forms to people who are dead and threatening people with fines and threatening individuals/officials turning up on people's doorstep demanding they fill in the form even though they have done it already!.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/ce ... d=msedgntp

I found the most disappointing thing from a family history viewpoint is that they didn't request a specific place of birth. On its own, I doubt it will be very useful to future family historians, nor do I expect many of the myriad databases that the government are considering to supersede censuses ever being retained for historical purposes. Like e-mails and images on mobile phones, most will be consigned to permanent deletion I fear.