Frequently asked questions
Choose a category of questions to view below...
Top FAQs How to fill in your questionnaire Census questions Help and support Privacy and confidentiality Background to the census Follow-up surveys Other census queries
Background to the census FAQs
- 1. Why can't you get census information from other government data sources?
- 2. Which companies are helping the General Register Office for Scotland to deliver the census?
- 3. Which Scottish companies are helping the General Register Office for Scotland to deliver the census?
- 4. Why can't I fill in the census in Gaelic on paper?
- 5. How environmentally friendly is the census?
- 6. Who runs the census in England and Wales?
- 7. Who runs the census in Northern Ireland?
- 8 Why is the census on a Sunday?
Top 1. Why can't you get census information from other government data sources?
The information that the census provides is not available from other sources.
The census is unique because it is the only survey to include everyone in the country. It asks the same questions of us all and in doing so builds a reliable picture of Scotland as a whole, as well as for groups of people and local communities within it.
A review of alternatives to a traditional census was carried out before work began on the Census, which concluded that the census was the only way to meet the information needs in 2011.
Top 2. Which companies are helping the General Register Office for Scotland to deliver the census?
The census is a big and complex project and we need a range of specialist service providers who help us deliver the most cost-effective solutions. We have been supported by 10 main contractors, and their subcontractors. The main contractors are listed below in alphabetical order:
BIG Partnership
CACI (UK)
Global Translations
Language Line
LogicaCMG
MediaCom
Pertemps
Royal Mail
Royal Mail Parcelforce
The Gate
Top 3. Which Scottish companies are helping the General Register Office for Scotland to deliver the census?
Scotland's Census worked with 10 main contractors, and their subcontractors. Of these the following are Scottish companies, or the Scottish branches of a UK-wide company, in alphabetical order:
BIG Partnership
Global Translations
LogicaCMG
MediaCom
Pertemps
Royal Mail
Royal Mail Parcelforce
The Gate
Top4. Why can't I fill in the census in Gaelic on paper?
GROS worked with Bòrd na Gàidhlig to identify how best to support Gaelic speakers and deliver value for taxpayers. We agreed that the online option is the best way to do this due to difficulties in identifying the households which would require a questionnaire in Gaelic. To deliver both English and Gaelic questionnaires to all households (including areas where few speakers live) would not be cost effective.
Top5. How environmentally friendly is the census?
We have made the census as environmentally friendly as we can without risking making the count unreliable.
The envelopes used to send and return the questionnaires are made from recycled materials, including the windows and adhesives, that can be fully recycled. Other printed material, including boxes and field staff training booklets, are all made from recycled paper and are recyclable. Once the information has been extracted from the paper questionnaires these will be securely shredded and recycled.
The census has been organised to minimise travel with census takers (enumerators) recruited locally and home-based. The postman, rather than the census taker delivers questionnaires in rural areas, avoiding extra travel.
The census questionnaires will be processed in Scotland.
Top6. Who runs the census in England and Wales?
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is the official organisation responsible for conducting the census and for producing economic and social statistics for England and Wales.
Top 7. Who runs the census in Northern Ireland?
NISRA is the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. It is the government agency responsible for conducting the census and is the principal source of official statistics and social research on Northern Ireland's population and socio-economic conditions.
Top8. Why is the census on a Sunday?
Sunday has traditionally been chosen as the most likely time that people will be at home. You can fill in your census questionnaire at any time after it has been delivered but we ask that you reflect your circumstances on 27 March 2011.
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