The online questionnaire closed on 20 April. 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
Privacy and confidentiality FAQs
- 1. What security checks are made on your census takers (enumerators)?
- 2. How will I know that the census taker (enumerator) works for the census?
- 3. Is it safe, secure and confidential?
- 4. What steps are taken to ensure the information I submit online is safe?
- 5. If I give you my details on a census questionnaire will somebody else be able to get hold of them via a Freedom of Information request?
- 6. How do I report suspected bogus or fraudulent activity?
Top 1. What security checks are made on your census takers (enumerators)?
All census takers (enumerators) are required to supply a Disclosure Scotland (Basic Disclosure) certificate.
Top 2. How will I know that the census taker (enumerator) works for the census?
All census staff carry an official identification card which includes a photograph. They will identify themselves when they call.
Top 3. Is it safe, secure and confidential?
Yes. Personal census information is kept strictly confidential. Secure arrangements to protect personal details are the foundation for Scotland’s Census.
Everyone working with personal census details is security checked and must sign an undertaking that they will protect the privacy of information. Data Protection legislation and census confidentiality legislation allows anyone who discloses personal census details to be prosecuted. Personal details are kept confidential for 100 years after each census, when they are then released.
Top 4. What steps are taken to ensure the information I submit online is safe?
Online returns are protected by robust security arrangements based on tried and tested technology.
To use the online questionnaire, householders must enter an Internet Questionnaire Access Code (IQAC) which is unique to their address.
An independent security review of all census systems and services has been commissioned.
When completing your questionnaire online, you can check that the small security padlock is displayed. This indicates that your data is being securely transferred. The padlock is usually found in the bottom right hand corner of the screen or in the title bar of your browser.
Your IQAC is specific to your household and should not be shared with anyone else. Similarly, the password you create should not be shared with anyone else.
Top 5. If I give you my details on a census questionnaire will somebody else be able to get hold of them via a Freedom of Information request?
No. You cannot get personal census information through a Freedom of Information request. This is set out in sections 38 and 58 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - personal census information is exempt from disclosure for 100 years.
Top6. How do I report suspected bogus or fraudulent activity?
Our Helpline staff will only call you if you have made an arrangement with them and our census staff will all carry photographic identification.
If you believe you have been contacted as part of bogus or fraudulent activity falsely representing Scotland’s Census, please contact the Security Team or the local police.
Information on suspected e-mail scams.
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