Census 2021

[Skoosh]

I don't think these suggestions relate to the real world, I can just see me, when I did my enumerator in Glasgow's Bridgeton, getting civil answers to any of this. How long have you been married? for example, that would be nobody's business an yours-truly would likely have got ma heid in ma hauns!
 The census wasn't designed for family history buffs!

Skoosh.

[andrewalston]

I may get drunk and sleep in a field on census night so family in 100 years time will be asking on social media "Can anyone find this man on the 2021 census?"

I came across a place in the 1861 census where at the end of the district, the enumerator had gone "above and beyond". He had enumerated one chap sleeping in a hut by the railway, and three sleeping in a barn. One of those in the barn had an unusual surname which matched a family on the same sheet. I suspect a pub may have been involved.

[Maiden Stone]

It's a pity no question was asked about hours worked, distance travelled to work, mode of transport

Isn't there a question about travelling to workplace? I looked at the census online last week; I thought I'd seen one. I don't have to complete it as I'm in Scotland.

[coombs]

I may get drunk and sleep in a field on census night so family in 100 years time will be asking on social media "Can anyone find this man on the 2021 census?"

I came across a place in the 1861 census where at the end of the district, the enumerator had gone "above and beyond". He had enumerated one chap sleeping in a hut by the railway, and three sleeping in a barn. One of those in the barn had an unusual surname which matched a family on the same sheet. I suspect a pub may have been involved.

In Bletchingdon, Oxfordshire in 1851, my ancestor's cousin was enumerated as a "tramp" as she was sleeping in a barn.

I filled my 2021 census in today, as said it may not be around in 100 years time. I filled my in online the enumerator being the website.

[Elwyn Soutter]

 It's been suggested that this might be the last census, no idea what will be put in its place though, the current ads telling you to complete the census suggest that the info is needed to know how many schools, hospitals, houses etc. to build.  Won't they need to know that in 2122 or even in 2031?

From what I have read there are a number of problems with the current system. Firstly, non completion. They reckon something like 3 million people didn't get included in the 2011 census, either because they refused to fill the form in or due to other reasons. Illegal migrants for example won’t have been in a rush to complete it. I also know two people living on a small Scottish island who never got a form in 2011. A bit exceptional, but I expect there are plenty other examples of people living in camper vans etc.

Then you normally have about a quarter of a million people out of the country on holiday or business, on census night. Another factor is that population is changing much more quickly these days. In say 1901 you knew how many children there were of every age and could calculate schooling requirements in each area for the next 10 years with some accuracy. With modern migration which can fill the country up very quickly (and has reportedly also emptied it during Covid) these figures all become pretty unreliable.

So the outcome of all these factors is that the current census isn’t all that helpful for forecasting purposes.

The idea in future is to gather the information from other public sources eg NHS records. How feasible that is I don’t know.

[Kiltpin]

Back in January on The World at One (I think), there was a man from the ONS talking about the census. 

He said that they get informed about - 

births,
deaths,
number of people paying tax,
number of people paying NI,
number of people paying Council Tax,
number of people claiming benefits,
number of people  in hospital, length of stay and type of treatment,
the number of schools and the number of pupils and their ages,
the number of care homes and the number of residents,
the number of vehicles paying road tax and the number SORN,
the gross number of households receiving gas/water/electricity,
the number of households with a landline,
 
from statutory authorities. 

Then there were amenities that report - libraries, leisure complexes and anywhere else that counts the number of people going in and out. 

Oh, I forgot 999. The number of call outs and the level of seriousness.

I am sure he mentioned motorway usage and times of the day. And something about prosecutions, type of crime and sentencing. 

They know most of this stuff already.   

Regards 

Chas

[Girl Guide]

I seem to recall that I read somewhere that this census, 2021 would be the last one.  The reason being as Kiltpin has just listed, that the necessary information is already available.

The next available census is going to be the 1921.  After that, if it is made available, will be the 1951.

[dowdstree]

The 1931 Scotland Census should be available in 10 years time as it was not destroyed in the fire in 1942 as it was stored near Edinburgh.

Dorrie

[Rena]

 It's obvious from a few TV fly on the wall documentaries that we definitely do not know the full extent of the numbers living in the UK.  From one documentary about foreign nationals living under the radar, one single mother was desperate for her six year old son to be educated but was frightened the authorities would deport them both.   The reporter on camera actually informed the lady that she could enroil her son in the local school and there was no need for her to be afraid of deportation as schools only submitted numbers not names to the governing body.

My late cousin Lilias earned a few coppers going round checking and helping to fill in census forms for residents in her nominated area.   It was in the 1950s when there were many disused buildings due to the blitz and age.  She had to inspect every one of them for signs of people living in them.  I remember two of her recollections;  one being the Italian couple with little English, a man and his wife who were travelling musicians. It was like getting blood out of a stone.  Lilias helped them fill in the census and asked if there were any other residents in the house "No" was the response, until a baby's cry was heard.  The baby's details were duly entered.  Another verbal check that there were no other persons in the houses "No".  then on cue, a male figure with bleary eyes wandered into the room.  In all there were several musicians living in the house.    Another time  she'd been down one side of a road checking householders and was walking back down the other side of the road when a lady came running after her.  Lilias recognised her as a resident she'd already visited.  "I must tell you that my husband did not tell the truth.  He has four men sleeping in the attic", she said.