Scotland's Census: Shaping Our Future

The online questionnaire closed on 20 April 2011. You must return a paper questionnaire now to avoid the risk of a fine up to £1,000.

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

How to fill in your questionnaire FAQs


Top
1. Where can I get guidance on how to fill in my questionnaire?

Please see our How to fill in your questionnaire section.

Top2. I rent my accommodation. Am I a 'householder'?

Yes. You do not have to be a house-owner to be a householder.

The householder/joint householder is responsible for filling in this questionnaire for their household.

The householder/joint householder is the person who lives, or is present at an address who:

Top3. I was not born in the UK, do I need to fill in a census questionnaire?

Yes, everyone in the country needs to be counted, regardless of country of birth.

Top4. Can I fill in the questionnaire online?

Yes, if you have an Internet Questionnaire Access Code (IQAC) printed on the front page of your questionnaire, you can fill it in online in English or Gaelic.

The online questionnaire is quick and easy to fill in as it takes you automatically to the next relevant question, based on your previous answers.

If your questionnaire doesn't have an IQAC or if you don't have access to the internet, please fill in the paper questionnaire and return it to us in the envelope provided.

Top5. I don't have an Internet Questionnaire Access Code (IQAC) printed on my questionnaire. Can I fill it in online?

No. The IQACs were generated from addresses provided by Royal Mail. Only Household Questionnaires with these access codes printed on the front can be filled in online.

Top6. What questionnaires can be filled in online?

Only Household Questionnaires supplied with an Internet Questionnaire Access Code can be filled in online. This questionnaire must include full details of everyone in the household.

Top7. If I fill in the questionnaire online, can I save it and complete it later?

Yes. You will be asked to create a password before you start to fill in your online questionnaire. You must keep this safe. This password will be required when you return to fill it in later.

If you start the online questionnaire but forget to click the ‘submit’ button at the end, we will capture any information that you have entered and add it to the response database. We will do this when the online questionnaire system is no longer live.

Top8. Can I fill in the questionnaire in any language other than English?

You must fill in the paper questionnaire in English. Translations of the questions are available in 11 languages which will help you to choose the tick box answers.

You can fill in the questionnaire online in English or Gaelic.

Top9. My son/daughter stays away from home during term-time, should I still include them on my Household Questionnaire?

Yes, you should include them on your Household Questionnaire.

Students/schoolchildren who stay away from home during term-time will be enumerated at their term-time address primarily but they should also be included at their permanent or family home address.

Top10. A member of my household is temporarily in hospital or a nursing home. Should they be included on the Household Questionnaire?

If they are staying, or expecting to stay, in a residential establishment such as a hospital, care home or hostel for less than six months, they should be included on a Household Questionnaire at their permanent or family home address.

Do not include them on a Household Questionnaire if they are staying, or expect to stay in a residential establishment for six months or more. They will be included on a questionnaire at their establishment.

Please see Extra Guidance for H1 to H5 for further details. This information is also given on page 3 of the paper questionnaire.

Top11. A member of my household (for example, son/daughter) is away travelling abroad but lives at this address. Should they be included on my Household questionnaire?

Yes they should be included if they will be outside the UK for less than 12 months. If they are away from the UK for 12 months or more then they do not need to be included on a census questionnaire at any address.

Please see Extra Guidance for H1 to H5 for further details. This information is also given on page 3 of the paper questionnaire.

Top12. Someone from overseas is staying at this address on the night of Sunday 27 March 2011. Should I include them on my census questionnaire?

People from outside the UK whose total length of stay in the UK will be six months or more must be included on the questionnaire at the address where they usually stay in the UK. They must be included in household questions H1 to H3 and H13, and individual questions 1 to 38.

If their total length of stay is less than six months, they must be included on the questionnaire at the address where they usually stay in the UK in household questions H4 and H5, and the continuation of H5 at the end of the questionnaire.

If they do not have an address where they usually stay in the UK they should be included on a questionnaire at the address where they are staying on 27 March 2011.

Please see Extra Guidance for H1 to H5 for further details. This information is also given on page 3 of the paper questionnaire.

Top13. I have more than one UK address.  How should I be included on the questionnaires at each address?

You should also be included on a questionnaire at your permanent or family home address in household questions H1 to H3 and H13 and in individual questions 1 to 38. If you are staying at your second address on the night of 27 March, you should be included on a questionnaire at your second address in questions H4 and H5 and the continuation of H5 at the end of the questionnaire.

Top14. I have someone who gives me 24-hour care. Do I include them on my questionnaire?

If the carer usually lives at your address, then include them on your questionnaire in question H1 to H3 and H13 and individual question 1 to 38.

If he or she usually lives elsewhere but stayed at your address on the night of 27 March 2011, only include them on your questionnaire in questions H4, H5 and the continuation of H5 on the back page.

Please see Extra Guidance for H1 - H5 for further details. This information is also given on page 3 of the paper questionnaire.

Top15. What happens if I am moving house around census day?

You should fill in a census questionnaire at your usual residence on census day (27 March 2011). If you moved before this date, please leave the questionnaire for the new residents to fill in. If you moved within Scotland, please fill in the questionnaire delivered to your new address or contact us to request a new one.

Top16. My house is being renovated and no-one is living there at the moment. How do I fill in the questionnaire?

The questionnaire should be filled in as though you were actually living there on 27 March 2011. You should be included in questions H4, H5 and the continuation of H5 on the back page at the other address at which you are staying temporarily.

Top17. I am not from the UK and will be staying here for less than six months in total. I do not have a usual address in the UK. Where should I be counted?

If you do not have a usual address while you are staying in the UK, you should be recorded on a questionnaire at the address where you stayed at the night of 27 March 2011. You should only be recorded in household questions H4 and H5 and in the continuation of H5 on the back page.

Top18. What do I do if a questionnaire has been delivered to business premises?

Non-residential premises are not required to fill in a questionnaire. Please destroy the questionnaire.

Top19. How do I return my completed Household Questionnaire?

Please return the questionnaire in the envelope provided. If the envelope has been lost we can arrange for the questionnaire to be collected or for a replacement envelope to be provided. Contact us using the Electronic Contact Facility or by calling the Helpline.

Top20. Can I fill in and sign the questionnaire on behalf of my elderly parents or someone else who requires assistance?

Yes. If someone has trouble filling in the questionnaire themselves then someone else can fill it for them and sign the declaration on their behalf.

Top21. How safe is the online questionnaire?

The online questionnaire is protected by robust security arrangements based on tried and trusted technology.

Read what we do and what you can do to protect yourself on our security section.

Top22. Can I amend answers online after my online questionnaire has been submitted?

Online questionnaires cannot be changed after submission, however if you have provided wrong information and wish to correct it, you can request a new paper questionnaire.

Top23. When filling in my questionnaire online can I switch between English and Gaelic?

No, if you begin to fill in your questionnaire online in either English or Gaelic you must continue in that language for the whole questionnaire.

Top24. Do I need to create a password if I choose to complete my questionnaire online?

Yes. You will need to create a password for security reasons and to also allow you to come back and complete your questionnaire if you need to logout for any reason.

Your password should be:

eight characters or more in length; AND
contain a mixture of letters and numbers.

If there is a period of inactivity of 10 minutes or more, your information will be saved and you will be logged out of the questionnaire automatically and have to enter your password to continue.

Please remember your password and keep it secure. If you forget your password it cannot be reset and you will not be able to regain access to your partially completed questionnaire.

Top25. Can I fill in the questionnaire online even if the rest of my household has filled in the questionnaire on paper?

No, only whole households can fill the questionnaire in online. If you wish to be recorded separately from the rest of your household please request an individual paper questionnaire.

Top26. Can I fill in the questionnaire on paper if the rest of my household wants to fill in online?

No, only whole households can fill the questionnaire in online. Your whole household should either fill in an online questionnaire or a paper questionnaire. If the rest of the household fills in the questionnaire on paper and you wish to be recorded separately then you can request an individual paper questionnaire

Top27. Can I fill in the questionnaire online separately from the rest of my household using a different Internet Questionnaire Access Code (IQAC)?

No, only whole households can fill the questionnaire in online. The unique Internet Questionnaire Access Code (IQAC) is linked to a specific household address and only one can be issued to each household.

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