Shake-up for UK Census 2006

The British government will investigate alternatives to the UK Census following a new official report criticising the costs of running it. The report indicates that the government had been unable to justify the cost of the 2001 Census, which has exceeded £250m.

The Census has been sharply criticised by a committee of MPs set up specifically to investigate practical aspects of the research. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the government department responsible, the most likely replacement will be 'some mix of administrative records, household survey and perhaps a national count'. In this sense, the key factor shaping the next Census will be 'the practical aspects of access to administrative records of high quality'.

However, the ONS has said it will consider a full range of options, including doing without the Census altogether, or reverting to a national count. The government department also said it will develop the mechanics of the review after discussion with Census information users, the Statistics Commission, international experts and ONS auditors.

Census progress and developments Census 2006 National Statistician, Len Cook has recommended that a mid-term census should not be held in England and Wales in 2006. The recommendation has been accepted by Ministers and follows a review to evaluate the merits of a mid-term census. The review focused on whether conducting a census in 2006 would be of value in updating 2001 Census core demographic data.

All articles 2006-22 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.