2007
Census Test
Frequently Asked Questions
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Why
have these five areas in |
Because the Census is so important, the Census Offices start planning and testing the questions several years in advance. The Census Test helps us to check our procedures and potential questions to make sure that we collect the information that is most needed. People living in about 100,000 households in Bath and North East Somerset, Camden, Carmarthenshire, Liverpool and Stoke-on-Trent, plus people living approximately 14,000 househlds in Belfast, Coleraine, Craigavon, Magherafelt and Fermanagh, have been invited to take part in the 2007 Census Test.
Who is responsible for taking the Census?
The Office for National
Statistics, in England & Wales, The General Register Office for
Scotland and The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. On 13
May 2007 the Office for National Statistics are conducting a Census Test
in England & Wales, and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research
Agency in Northern Ireland. The General Register Office for
NISRA
is the
The
Census is a count of all the people and households in the
A
Census is a survey of all people and households within the country. It
provides important statistics from national to neighbourhood level for use
by central and local government and the community. The Census is
independent of any political party and is typically held in
Your local council makes use of Census statistics to work out how much money they need to pay for the services in your local community. These include the important services that you may use, such as schools, health services, police, carers, transport and refuse collection. The amount of money that they have to spend is based on the number and type of people living in each local area, which is why it will be important for you to take part and be counted in 2011.
What are the main aims of the Census?
The main aims are to provide a complete picture of the nation, by counting everyone at the same time. The Census helps determine society's future needs by identifying, for example, the numbers of children, the elderly, the disabled; to identify changing patterns in society; and to assist central government and local government to plan and fund local services.
For
the 2007 Census Test the participation is voluntary, but we do rely on the
public's co-operation to make it a success.
The Census Test helps us to check our procedures and potential
questions to make sure that the 2011 Census will be a success, and that
the needs of your household will be recognised. The Census in 2011 will be
compulsory under the Census Act (
How can I be sure my details will remain confidential?
The
personal information which a person supplies when completing their
questionnaire will be treated as confidential. Information from the 2007
Test is protected in the same way and by the same legislation as Census
information. No results from the 2007 Test will be published other than as
part of the Test evaluation. Confidentiality of individuals' information
is an issue that the
Why
have these five areas in
Belfast, Coleraine, Craigavon, Magherafelt and Fermanagh have been chosen to represent the full range of types of areas, and problems that the Census mighht encounter, across NI.
