New census: Tell us all about your health and how much you earn

Published on Thursday 26 November 2009 21:40

PROPOSED new questions for the next census in Scotland have been unveiled. The survey of Scotland's five million people will help decide how billions of pounds of future public services are provided across the UK.

Six new questions are planned to look at long-term health, national identity, household income, when those surveyed arrived in the UK and two questions on language.

The Scottish Parliament has been asked to consider the draft Census (Scotland) Order, which sets a date for the next UK-wide census. The earliest date that it can be carried out is Sunday, 27 March 2011.

It will ask 14 household questions and up to 35 questions for each individual – 49 in total.

The questions have been recommended following five years of research and consultation, led by census organiser, the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS).

Minister for enterprise, energy and tourism, Jim Mather, said: "The once-a-decade census is the only survey of the entire population, from national to neighbourhood level.

"Responses to the recommended census questions will shape everyone's future because the census provides government, local authorities and health boards with a robust picture of the population.

"This helps them to determine how to best deliver vital public services, like health, housing, education and transport.

"The 2001 census was the first for a devolved Scotland and the plans for 2011 build on its contribution to society by ensuring that Scotland remains an inclusive country where growth and progress are nurtured throughout our society."

Registrar General Duncan Macniven said: "In deciding on what questions to include, we have consulted a broad range of census data users and the public about what they need from the census.

"We received positive ideas and contributions which have informed our approach to 2011.

"The draft census order proposes a question about long-term health conditions because that will inform us about how common different conditions are in the population – for example, visual or hearing problems. That helps to plan health and social services.

"We also recommend that a national identity question is introduced, with tick-box options for selected groups within Scotland and space for people to write in other responses.

"People can then select as many or as few as they feel necessary.

"This, in conjunction with the ethnic group question, allows people to fully express what they feel their identity to be."