Census 2021 is coming - Census Day is on Sunday 21 March. It's vital that everyone in the Monmouth constituency takes part.
The census is a survey that happens every 10 years and gives us a picture of all the people and households in England and Wales. The census is run by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in England and Wales. The ONS is the UK’s largest independent producer of official statistics.
The information you give helps to inform decisions on how to plan and fund services in your local area. This includes services such as transport, education and healthcare. It will also provide vital information for future decisions made by Parliament.
Census 2021 will ask questions about you and your household to build a picture of all of us. It looks at who we are, what we do and how we live. The census is important because it gives the most detailed information we have about our society.
From Census 2011, we found that the Monmouth constituency had:
- 35,606 households
- 1,491 families with three or more dependent children
- 144 ethnic groups in the area
We also found that within this population:
- 23.15 per cent of usual residents (aged 16 years and over) are retired
- 46.53 per cent of people drive to work
- 95.77 per cent of people have English or Welsh as their main language
- 9.35 per cent of people can speak Welsh
What will Census 2021 tell us?
The only way to understand the needs of people in England and Wales fully is if everyone takes part in the census. The ONS needs every community across England and Wales to engage with the census.
Census 2021 is the first digital-first census. Households will get a letter in the post with an access code, which they can use to log into the website. They will be able to complete the online census questionnaire on smartphones and tablets, as well as laptops and desktop computers. Support, including paper questionnaires, will be available to those who need it.
It’s important that the census sheds light on long-term trends while also reflecting the changing society in which we live today. Census 2021 will ask people aged 16 years and over questions on three new topics. These are:
- previous service in the UK Armed Forces
- gender identity
- sexual orientation
The sexual orientation and gender identity questions are also voluntary, like the religion question. As with all questions about identity, people can answer in the way that best represents them by using the response options, including write-in options, provided. For the ethnic group, religion and national identity questions, this ability is further enhanced online by search-asyou-type functionality.
Answering FAQs
What is the census?
The census is a survey that happens every 10 years and gives us a picture of all the people and households in England and Wales. The census is unique. There’s simply nothing else that gives so much detail about us and the society we live in. All kinds of organisations, from local authorities to charities, use the information to help provide the services we all need, including transport, education and healthcare. Without Census 2021, it would be much more difficult to do this.
When is the census happening?
Census Day is Sunday 21 March. Households will receive a letter in the post in early March, which will explain how to take part. The letter will contain a household access code, which you should use to complete the census online. You can also request a paper version if you prefer.
Why should I take part in the census?
The census tells us what our needs are now and what they’re likely to be in the future. Knowing what your community’s needs are helps plan and fund public services in your area and across England and Wales. This means the information you give in the census informs things that affect all of us, like transport, education and healthcare.
Charities and voluntary organisations often use it as evidence to get funding. It also helps businesses to understand us as customers and, for example, decide where to open new shops.
You must complete the census questionnaire by law or you could be fined up to £1,000.
Who runs the census?
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) runs the census in England and Wales. The ONS is the UK’s largest independent producer of official statistics. The ONS reports directly to the UK Parliament, but does not work for any political parties. It is part of the UK Statistics Authority that works to promote and safeguard the production and publication of statistics that serve the public good.
The ONS works with National Records of Scotland (NRS) and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA). These agencies run the censuses in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Together they make sure the three censuses create a clear picture of the UK. The census in Northern Ireland will be held on the same day as in England and Wales. Scotland’s census will be held a year later in 2022.
How long will it take to complete the census?
The census should take around 10 minutes per person to complete. You will be able to complete the online census questionnaire on smartphones and tablets, as well as laptops and desktop computers. Support, including paper questionnaires, will be available to those who need it.
What if I do not speak English or Welsh?
You can visit www.census.gov.uk or www.cyfrifiad.gov.uk where translation booklets are available to download. You can also order translation booklets through the contact centre, which you can call free on 0800 141 2021 (England) or 0800 169 2021 (Wales). If your language is not included, please phone the language helpline free on 0800 587 2021.
Support can also be found online by:
- visiting www.census.gov.uk/languages where you can access translated information about the census in 49 languages
- visiting www.cyfrifiad.gov.uk/ieithoedd if you’d prefer the site in Welsh to access translated information about the census in 49 languages
- visiting www.census.gov.uk/downloadable-resources where there is a large range of translated written information available
- visiting www.cyfrifiad.gov.uk/adnoddau-syddar-gael-iw-lawrlwytho if you’d prefer the site in Welsh to access a large range of translated written information
How can I get help to complete my census questionnaire?
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is aiming to make it easy for everyone to take part in Census 2021. But if you need help, you can visit www.census.gov.uk or www.cyfrifiad.gov.uk where there will be an online help area. There will also be a dedicated contact centre offering help through phone, webchat, email, social media or text message. You can call the contact centre free on 0800 141 2021 (England) or 0800 169 2021 (Wales). Support, including paper questionnaires, will be available to those who need it.
If you cannot get online or need help completing the census online, you can also visit one of the Census Support Centres, if it’s safe and within government guidelines about coronavirus (COVID-19) for the ONS to open them.
The ONS will also be offering guidance in a range of languages and accessible formats. This includes translation booklets in multiple languages and a translation service through the free language helpline, which you can call on 0800 587 2021. It also includes accessible formats such as large print, braille and British Sign Language (BSL) videos. The online census questionnaire is also compatible with most assistive technologies.
What happens if I do not complete my census questionnaire?
If you live in England and Wales, you must fill in the census form by law or you could be fined up to £1,000.
How will my information be kept safe?
The census asks questions about you, your home and the people who live in it. The census has a proud 200-year history of keeping this personal information safe. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has a strict security regime that follows government standards.
This includes physical and IT security measures to protect your data, covering people, processes and technology. What’s more, no one can tell who you are in the statistics that the ONS publishes. The ONS makes sure that they include none of your personal information. All ONS systems, staff, suppliers and processes must protect your confidentiality by law.