General Chat

Did anyone else see the news report on BBC News this morning?

(This is from the BBC News website)

The national census due to take place in 2011 could be the last of its kind.

The BBC understands that the government is examining other ways of measuring population and other statistics than the survey of all homes every 10 years.

In future, data could be gathered from records held by the Post Office, local government and credit checking agencies - thought to be more effective.

The government said it was "examining" whether changes could be made but no decision had been reached.

A census has been carried out every decade since 1801, apart from during World War II.

Next year's census, sent to every household, will cost an estimated £482m. It asks for detailed information including nationality, religious faith and marital status.

There will be separate censuses across the UK on the same day, 27 March 2011, organised by the Office for National Statistics in England and Wales, the General Register Office for Scotland and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.

'Accurate data'

Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude believes the process is inefficient and its results quickly become out of date.

He told the Daily Telegraph: "There are, I believe, ways of doing this which will provide better, quicker information, more frequently and cheaper."

Mr Maude said population counts could be done more often using various databases.

"This would give you more accurate, much more timely data in real time. There is a load of data out there in loads of different places," he said.

The BBC's Adam Fleming at Westminster says that, although work on the 2011 census is too far advanced to make major changes, it is hoped savings can still be made.

A Cabinet Office spokesman said: "The government is examining whether after 2011 there are different ways of getting this information. No decision has been taken."


What are our descendents gonna do when they want to know about us?
Think I shall have to start doing a file of what I know about my past and what is happening in my life now so that future generations know about us.

Helen

If it's not broken don't fix it.
The system inplace today will work better then the ones they have in mind. If more info is required on us all, then why not just make the form bigger?
If you look at the census form the USA use, it has more info then the one used here in the UK.
As for things being cheaper. Well I personaly can't see how they can charge what they do today simply for a photocopy of a Birth, Marrige or Death cert.
Ask yourself this, If they were to change to the new system they have in mind and store it on a computer in an office someplace, how long would it be before somebody bright enough somewhere hacked in and got peoples details?
What damage could they do to people?

It's just my view but I see nothing wrong with the sysem we already have.

It was in our newspaper this morning. My first thought, naturally, was what about future geneaolgists?

I hope they keep it the way it has been.

Deb

nudged

oh for goodness sake.....why do people want to mess with everything?

As an aside, does anyone know what exactly the census records next year will ask?

Did I imagine it or did I read somewhere that it will ask about income? It is an area where the govt can save a lot of money.....better than cutting some things.

Future genealogists are going to have huge problems anyway aren't they. Fractured families, children by different partners, children with sperm donor fathers and from donated eggs to quote a few examples. Families are much more mobile as well and move all over the place to live. It would be a shame though to lose all the info about people's occupations.

ask about income? I should imagine some families/householders won't like divulging that.

Yep, I just looked at the consultation document and income is one of the considerations. Name of employer, sources of income, number of jobs, hours worked, transport used to travel to work, education and qualifications.

Also being considered...accommodation type, number of rooms, garden access, pet ownership.

I don't think filling the form in would be a quick job!

Well there is no way I'd tell them my income, bad enough telling the taxman!!