News archive
Read our archived census news stories.
04.04.2011 Scotland’s Census returns reach 70 per cent, so fill it in now if you haven’t already
As Scotland’s census return rate reaches 70 per cent, people who have yet to send back questionnaires are set to be visited by census takers, to make sure everyone is counted.
28.03.2011 Census help is at hand to avoid a £1,000 fine
With hundreds of thousands of census questionnaires already returned, Scotland’s Registrar General prepares to issue letters to people who refuse to take part, warning that they could face a £1,000 fine.
28.03.2011 Scotland’s Census counts the country’s newest arrivals
Babies born on or before Sunday 27 March are counted in Scotland’s biggest population survey – the 2011 Census – which took place yesterday.
27.03.2010 Tartan Army checks in for 2011 Scottish census
Thousands of Tartan Army supporters are in London for the Scotland vs. Brazil football match, but they are still lined up for inclusion in Scotland’s biggest population survey – the 2011 Census – which takes place today, Sunday 27 March.
27.03.2011 Speedy return of 2011 Census questionnaires from Aberdeen Airport’s helipad
A North Sea oil crew signed in early for the 2011 Census because they will be hundreds of miles from home as the population survey takes place.
26.03.2011 Census records help identify the Busby boy who took football to Brazil
This Sunday's football friendly, Scotland against Brazil, coincides with the 2011 Census, which takes place throughout the UK on 27 March and historic census records have helped identify the Caledonian pioneer - a Renfrewshire boy from Busby - who introduced the beautiful game to Brazil.
26.03.2011 2011 Census: District Manager's 5th census
As census day arrives, tomorrow, Sunday 27 March, a Census District Manager in Fife will be getting involved in her fifth census.
23.03.2011 Registrar General joins census taker
Registrar General Duncan Macniven joins census taker Kenneth Alves while he delivers his census questionnaires.
21.03.2011 Leading organisations endorse 2011 Census
With less than one week to go until census day, on Sunday 27 March, organisations that represent people throughout Scotland have endorsed the population count.
17.03.2011 Audio article on the census
Listen to details of the census for people who are blind or who have visual impairments which includes the help and support available to them.
14.03.2011
2011 Census: Questionnaires posted to remote areas
Around 140,000 questionnaires for Scotland’s biggest population survey, the 2011 Census, will arrive by post at addresses in remote areas.
07.03.2011 2011 Census: questionnaire delivery begins
More than 2.5 million questionnaires for the biggest population survey - the 2011 Census - will be delivered to Scottish addresses from today.
02.03.2011 An Introduction to Scotland's Census 2011
Every household in Scotland will receive a questionnaire which asks 13 questions about the household and up to 35 questions about each household member. These include questions about work, education, national identity, ethnic background, language, health and marital status.
21.02.2011 The 2011 Census: Painting Scotland’s Future
‘Fill in the blanks and help shape Scotland’s future’ – that’s the message of a campaign launched today (Monday, 21 February) to highlight Scotland’s biggest population survey, the 2011 Census.
18.11.2010 Recruitment begins for more than 5,800 census takers (enumerators)
Updated 21.12 1010 - We still need enumerators to work in the following areas of Scotland.
07.10.2010 Recruitment begins for more than 6,000 census staff
The 22 men and women responsible for the regional management of Scotland’s 2011 Census have taken up their posts and one of their first tasks is to recruit more than 6,000 temporary staff to support the population survey.
10.09.2010 New census learning pack to assist people with literacy difficulties
A new educational learning pack uses the census - Scotland's biggest population survey - to encourage people with literacy difficulties and those learning the English language, to overcome any problems they face when filling in official forms.
31.08.2010 Independent Security Review for 2011 Census
Scotland’s Registrar General has assured the public that the 2011 Census is set to be the most secure in the country’s history.
16.07.2010 2011 Census Regulations
The Scottish Parliament has been asked to consider the 2011 Census Regulations, to set out the detailed arrangements for how Scotland’s Census is to be conducted.
28.04.2010 Parliament approves the next census
The Scottish Parliament has confirmed that census day 2011, one of the most important days of the next decade, will take place on Sunday 27 March after MSPs approved the questions that will be asked of the country’s five million residents.
13.04.2010 Outputs Consultation Roadshows
As part of the General Register Office for Scotland’s (GROS) consultation on the 2011 Census outputs, a number of ‘roadshow’ events are being held for census data users.
29.03.2010 Heather the Weather makes census forecast as countdown begins to 2011
Better known for forecasting the weather, TV presenter and meteorologist Heather Reid was predicting an improved outlook for services across Scotland as she launched the one-year countdown to the 2011 Census.
09.03.2010 Census postal test asks East Renfrewshire and Midlothian householders for seal of approval.
Midlothian and East Renfrewshire householders are asked to help finalise the arrangements for returning questionnaires for Scotland’s next census.
18.02.2010 Have your say on how the census results look
Users of census data and the general public now have the opportunity to influence how results from Scotland’s 2011 Census will be presented.
26.11.2009 Scotland’s census questions unveiled
Proposals for the comprehensive population survey that helps to decide how billions of pounds worth of future public services are planned were unveiled today.
24.11.2009 Scottish Census Steering Committee
Details of Scotland's Census Steering Committee have been added to the General Register Office for Scotland's website.
12.08.2009 Census in schools
The Census in Schools project uses published census statistics and historic records to support teaching and learning for Primary Six to Secondary One pupils in several areas of the school curriculum.
23.04.2009 Census rehearsal questionnaires
It is not too late to take part in Scotland’s census rehearsal. The Census organiser, the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS), will continue to accept paper copies of the census rehearsal questionnaire, although the option to complete it online closed on 20 April 2009.
02.04.2009 Census takers to follow up rehearsal questionnaires
Householders who have not already returned their census rehearsal questionnaires will be prompted to do so from next week.
29.03.2009 Edinburgh resident is first to complete a Scottish Census questionnaire online
The first person to complete a Scottish census questionnaire online was from Edinburgh, Scotland’s census organiser has revealed.
The online questionnaire was returned as part of a practice run which takes place, in west Edinburgh and Lewis and Harris, today (Sunday 29 March) ahead of the Scotland-wide census in 2011.
26.03.2009 Hearts and Hibs unite in support for Scotland’s Census
Two Edinburgh football clubs have teamed up to support Scotland’s census rehearsal which takes place in the city on Sunday (29 March).
21.03.2009 Statement on census contractor
Registrar General Duncan Macniven responds to media interest in the census contract with CACI (UK).
19.03.2009 Celebrities back Scotland’s Census
Three Scottish celebrities have highlighted the importance of the census ahead of its rehearsal - in west Edinburgh, Lewis and Harris - later this month.
27.10.2008 Census rehearsal jobs for west Edinburgh
Around 100 temporary jobs are on offer as west Edinburgh takes part in the census rehearsal in March 2009, census regional manager, David Stevenson confirmed today.
27.10.2008 Census Rehearsal Jobs for Lewis and Harris
Lewis and Harris are set to benefit from around 20 temporary jobs as the area takes part in the census rehearsal in March 2009, census regional manager, Donald Martin announced today.
17.06.2008 Census questionnaires to be available online
Scotland's householders will be able to complete census questionnaires online for the first time in 2011, the Registrar General announced today.
27.03.2008 Scotland's next census date unveiled
Scotland’s largest population count, the 2011 Census, is set to be held three years from today on Sunday 27 March 2011 – the earliest date since 1801.
10.01.2008 50,000 households to rehearse Scotland's next census
Western Isles and west Edinburgh residents are set to test the arrangements for Scotland’s next census, the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) announced today.
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