General Chat

Thanks for your help.

It's my mother-in-law's 80th birthday and a nephew from Ireland turned up at her home this morning as a birthday surprise. I told her that, as he is staying the night, she will have to put him on her census form as a visitor! She says she is not going to do this as he doesn't live there.....Well at least I tried to persuade her she should!

Worryingly the Irish nephew says he hasn't had his own census form at home yet (he lives in a fairly remote village) yet another relative, also from Ireland, says he gave out census forms some time ago in his part of Ireland. (Different system there.) Makes you wonder how accurate the Irish 2011 census is going to be.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1370432/Census-2011-New-mother-gave-birth-3am-amend-Census-form.html

Having given birth at 3am, worrying about filling out the Census form probably was not top of Linda Kipre's list.
But they were pictured today as a reminder that parents of children born at the last minute still have to include their details on the questionnaire.
Hope Eunice Eden was born at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital in London at 3.09am, to the delight of Linda and partner Dominic Musafiri.

Now they will have to add their daughter's details to their Census, which should be filled in today or as soon as possible afterwards.

Helen, as soon as possible please, but preferably within the next ten days. It doesn't take that long to do, especially if you complete it on line.

Further info on the timeline:-

If you haven't submitted your return by the 6th April, then you will be marked down for a visit from a Census Collector, who will be able to assist if you have any problems. You may receive further visits until you submit a return.

After 20th April, non-returning households will receive one final visit from the collector.

If at any point you intimate to the Census Collector that you are not prepared to submit a return or have failed to submit by the 6th May, then you may receive further visits from the non-compliance team and face prosecution if you still refuse to co-operate. You may also face prosecution if you deliberately report false information.

I'm sure this will not apply to GR members.....!

If you do submit on-line then please ensure that you press the submit button and keep a copy of your confirmation receipt reference.

the 27th or soon after Helen.

When does it have to be done by? It is on my pile of jobs to do but I keep putting it to the bottom.

Well, I don't think that anyone resides in the ticket machine :-)

All people who are normally resident should be included on the form, irrespective of whether they are physically present on census night.

It doesn't matter if you send your form in early and then find you have guests on the night, as they should be counted on the form for their normal place of residence. Visitors, residents of second homes etc are not double counted, but the information is there for use in statistical analysis

In terms of who fills in the return then the householder is responsible. This is the owner or person who pays the rent or bills. If the property is empty then ideally the owner should complete the return.

If for whatever reason a return is not completed, the the census collector will complete a dummy return. This simply describes the type of property, and, where appropriate, an estimate the no of people resident.

Presumably so that people can look in and see what the questions are. Censuses have always been done on a specific date.

We've had this 'discussion' with the in laws (mid 80's) . They are sticking by not completing it until the morning of the 28th as they aren't sure if someone will be staying overnight.

OK - their choice, but they haven't even opened the envelope yet and are sure to get in a flap and panic when they see the personal questions - lol

Who will complete the one sent to the ticket machine? :-)

- http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/8897540.No_common_census_as_Moors_Valley_ticket_machine_gets_form/

My husbands grt Uncle filled his in and sent it off last week, OH rang to tell them and they didn't seem a bit bothered. I said the same as AnninGlos he is 84 you never know.

I think people who are not used to census forms and who don't read the small print are going to make that mistake. We are so conditioned to filling in forms and sending them immediately.

To AnninGlos - my cousin's wife has filled in her form and sent it off. It was only the day afterwards she realised what she had done and went into a panic.
I will let her know that she isn't the only one.....jl

I listened to that programme on Radio 4 yesterday - Tracing Your Roots - Census Special, and the presenter suggested photocopying the booklet before posting so that our descendents don't have to wait 100 years to look at what we recorded. Obviously not applicable to the online version!

Tracing Your Roots:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006zbxm

IGP can you anwser a question for me please. Daughter owns an apartment, one of 4 or 5 in a large house which is let by an agency as holiday lets in the Lake District. I don't think there is anyone in the apartment that week. What is returned on the census and who would fill it in? the agency? Any idea?

I hate to mention this but it is not only that you may have guests. Heaven forbid it should happen but anyone could actually not be alive on the night.

I find it strange that people can be rcorded in two places. I had seen that when reading the form though.

OH complained not an hour ago I had not filled in my part and I informed him he could put it whereever he wants until 27th March which is when I fill it in!

If you are retired, Q26 you tick 'none of the above'. Q30 you tick 'retired'.

I hadn't read all the form yet InspectorGreenPen so thanks for that. It is interesting that the family could be recorded at more than 1 address. Children could be elswhere on 'sleepovers' these days. More things to watch out for for future genealogists!!

BTW how should you answer Q28 on the form if you are retired and not looking for work?

Oh......that would certainly get the fur flying in some families!!

I think that family history will be virtually impossible in the future as families are so complicated these days.

Kath. x