Today is Census Day - Sunday 27th March 2011 - tiime to fill in the form, if you already haven't done so!

Today is Census Day – Sunday 27th March

2011! If you haven’t already filled in your form either on paper or online,

today is actually the day that you should be doing it! Already over 360,000

people in England and Wales have taken advantage of the help available online

and over the phone to help them fill in their 2011 census questionnaires

according to the census people. 

Latest figures show the national Census

Helpline on 0300 0201 101 has taken 342,971 calls since lines opened on March

4. Just over 20,000 people a day, that's 357,512 so far, are using the census

website's online help facility to seek help getting started and

completing the questionnaire.

Now that most of the census forms have been

delivered to 26 million households across England

and Wales,

popular requests about the census from helpline callers and people enquiring

online

include:

• ·When can I fill in the form online?
• ·What should I do if I'm away from home or on

  holiday?

• ·What are the legal responsibilities for

  individuals filling in the form?

• ·Can I have a replacement questionnaire

  because I've spilled tea, coffee on it

• or my dog has chewed it?

 2011 Census Director Glen Watson said:

"I am pleased so many people are taking the time to ask questions about

the census when they need help.

"I urge everyone to fill in their census

questionnaires to ensure a better future for all. The census provides a richly

detailed snapshot of society that helps the right decisions to be made in

future about services including housing, schools and health provision."

Concerning the dog question - as with

homework, "the dog ate it" doesn't excuse you filling it out! It has

to be done. Contact the 2011 Census helpline and they will provide another

form.

Here are answers to some of the public's

questions: 

When can people fill in their form online?

As soon as you receive your paper

questionnaire, you will be able to complete and submit the online

questionnaire. Please remember that your completed questionnaire should

accurately describe your household and visitors on census night, Sunday 27

March.

The paper questionnaire has your personal

internet access code printed on the front page. You will need it to open your

online questionnaire.

Answers should reflect all those living or

staying in your household (including any overnight visitors) on census day,

Sunday 27 March.

What if I'm away on Census Day?

2011 Census requires everyone to be counted

at the address where they usually live. Anyone away from home on census day,

Sunday 27 March, must be included on the household questionnaire for their

usual address.

If everyone in the household is away on

census day please complete and return your questionnaire before you go or as

soon as possible afterwards. Remember to make sure your answers are about your

household on census day. Your questionnaire needs to include all people who

usually live at this address. This means that you should include everyone for

whom this is their permanent or family home, even if they are working or

studying away from home. 

If you are staying at another address in the United Kingdom

on census night you should be included as a visitor on the questionnaire for

that address.

What are the legal responsibilities?

The information you supply on your

questionnaire is essential to produce accurate, high quality statistics. The

2011 Census needs to include everyone. That's why every household in England and Wales must, by law, complete a

census questionnaire. The householder must provide information about the

accommodation and all the people who are living or staying there on 27 March

2011.

If you refuse to complete and return the

questionnaire, or give false information, you may be liable for a fine. This

liability does not apply to the completion of the religion question.

How do I request a replacement questionnaire?

If you have lost, damaged or not received your

household questionnaire: or if there is more than one household at your address

you can request a replacement form.

If there is not enough space for all your

household members and visitors on your questionnaire, you can either complete

online (where there is space for 30 members and nine visitors), or fill in both

your paper household questionnaire and one or more continuation questionnaires.

If you don't want your information seen by

other members of your household, you can complete an individual questionnaire.

This can be completed online or on paper.

 

The census provides an estimate of the

population of England and Wales and is

carried out every ten years by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The

information given is confidential and is protected by law. 

The statistics derived from the census

underpin the allocation of important funding for necessary services like

education, transport and health. They are also used by policy makers in central

and local government to identify and understand the needs of communities. (It will

also be useful to those researching their family history in the years to come!!)