There has been a fantastic response to Census 2021. Nine out of ten households across England and Wales have completed their questionnaire – but everyone must take part.
Every household is required by law to complete the census. Even though Census Day – 21 March 2021 – has been and gone, it is not too late to fill out your form and avoid a fine.
Most people have already completed their census online to make sure public services like GP surgeries, hospital beds, school places and public transport, are based on the most up to date information.
Iain Bell, the deputy national statistician at the Office for National Statistics in charge of the census, urged everyone to look out for reminder letters and fill out their census now.
“We’ve had an amazing response to the census so far,” Iain said. “I’d like to thank everyone who has helped us exceed all expectations.
“But we want to make sure everyone counts and we won’t rest until every household has responded. Field officers are out and about knocking on doors where records show we have had no response. If you don’t want to get a visit, please complete your census now.
“Your response is vital. The information you give means all the services we rely on, like school places and emergency services, are planned on accurate information. It is even used to plan where to build new supermarkets, what food to put on the shelves and how many parent and toddler spaces to put in the car park.”
The census questionnaire is simple, straightforward, and safe to complete online. It only takes 10 minutes per person in a home.
All households were sent a letter in the post in early March with instructions for taking part. If you have lost the letter or have a second address – including a caravan – you have not visited, go to www.census.gov.uk to request an online completion code for your address via SMS text message.
If you know someone who doesn’t have the skills or confidence to do the census online, help is at hand. We have local census support centres across England and Wales, offering phone and face to face support. Go to https://census.gov.uk/help/find-a-census-support-centre to find a centre near you.
You can also call our freephone contact centre. Call 0800 141 2021 in England and 0800 169 2021 in Wales for help or to order a paper questionnaire.
The role of field officers is to give help and encouragement to those who have not yet filled in their census questionnaire online or on paper and direct them to the support services they need.
Field staff will never need to enter people’s houses; they will always be socially distanced, be equipped with PPE and work in line with all government guidance. They will be operating in the same way as a postal or food delivery visit. They also carry ID to show they are genuinely working on the census.
