Science and Technology CommitteeCorrespondence submitted by the Minister for the Cabinet Office, 25 July 2012 (Census 42)

You wrote to the Minister for Science on 20 June in relation to the Census. As the Minister with responsibility for the Census, I am best placed to reply to you.

Population and other socio-demographic statistics are currently drawn from a combination of the ten yearly census supported by regular updates from surveys and administrative systems. In recent years it has become more challenging and expensive to conduct censuses and household surveys, due to the fact that people are more mobile and because of the increasingly complex ways in which people live. Relying on the ten yearly census also means that information quickly becomes out of date, and we are keen to explore alternatives that provide more up to date data. Many other European countries, under similar pressures, have moved away from the use of the traditional census to make greater use of data already held by public bodies.

The Beyond 2011 Programme was established by the UK Statistics Authority in April 2011 in response to concerns expressed by the current and previous Governments about the accuracy and costs of current methods. The programme is considering eight options (including a traditional census approach) and will assess users’ requirements and consider the best way of meeting these needs. The outcome will be an evidence-based recommendation which will consider the costs and benefits of each of the options being evaluated.

Any changes to the census will have far reaching implications for central and local government and for other users. All options will be assessed against an agreed set of criteria in order to ensure that they are capable of meeting users’ requirements, providing population and socio-demographic statistics of the required quality that are publicly acceptable.

Ultimately, any recommendation from the Beyond 2011 Programme must offer value for money. The costs associated with each option will be considered longside other factors including the ability to meet user requirements and the quality of the expected outputs. While cost is a driver, the real issue is ensuring that the best possible approach is taken, and best use is made of existing public data and developments in technology. In light of the scale and national importance of the census, a full review of the approach is entirely appropriate.

The Government is committed to finding an alternative to the traditional census, and we are looking forward to receiving the Committee’s report. We will make sure that the most appropriate Minister responds.

25 July 2012