Independent Security Review for 2011 Census « Scotland's Census: Shaping Our Future

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.

The General Register Office for Scotland (GROS), which is overseeing the census, announced that one of the UK’s leading independent auditors has been commissioned to review security arrangements.

John Dowdall, who recently retired as Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland will lead a team that will review security procedures and report publicly on GROS’s arrangements to make sure personal census information is securely collected, processed and used to produce anonymised statistics before being stored confidentially for the next 100 years

Mr Dowdall will be assisted in his work by Harvey Mattinson who has led in information assurance policy and implementation at the Cabinet Office and at Government Communications Headquarters. They will be supported by Peter Fagan, a consultant with many years experience in this area.

Registrar General Duncan Macniven, who is overseeing the preparations for the census, said:

“It is vital that the personal information collected in the census is kept confidential. Our security worked well in the last census, in 2001. We have built on that to ensure that the answers that people give in the 2011 Census are kept confidential for 100 years.

“We are delighted to be working with Mr Dowdall and his team to review all aspects of security around the collection, processing and storage of census information. The 2011 Census will achieve a number of firsts, including people being able to fill in their questionnaires online, and we want to make sure new rigorous standards of security and confidentiality are applied.

“We believe the stringent steps we are taking will keep personal information secure. Mr Dowdall’s independent review will help reassure people on that important point.”

The review forms part of the measures being undertaken by GROS to ensure a successful 2011 Census and provide assurance to the public that their information will be kept safe.

John Dowdall said:

"Everyone has the right to expect that the information they provide in the census will be secure and handled in accordance with best practice in information management. As a measure of confidence on this, our independent review will scrutinise all of the arrangements for managing and handling census information and we will publish our conclusions."

As Scotland’s biggest survey, the census is used to produce national and neighbourhood statistics that help to decide how billions of pounds worth of public services, like health, housing, education and transport, are planned and provided.

The 2011 Census will ask 13 household questions and up to 35 questions for each individual. These questions were selected following six years of research and consultation.

In what will be one of the biggest logistical undertakings by the public sector in Scotland, the coming months will see around 6,000 temporary census takers being recruited and trained and equipped to deliver questionnaires to households throughout the country.