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Support for the Census
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Governments, local authorities, business, academics and many other organisations use anonymised census results to plan ahead and meet our needs. It reflects our requirements as a nation, city, town or village, or as a group of people within each area. The results mean public services can be properly planned and funded. A selection of census data users have explained how they use the results and why the census matters to them.
“The census will give a good picture of the living conditions in Scotland. The census helps with planning for things like leisure facilities, schools and hospitals. The rehearsal that’s taking place in west Edinburgh helps make sure everything is ready for 2011, so make sure you take part and fill your questionnaire in to help build Edinburgh’s future.”
“Census information is a vital record of Scottish history, as well as helping the Scottish Government and local councils plan for the future. I would encourage everyone to take part in the rehearsal this month.”
“Having recently researched my family for a BBC programme, I can testify that the census, far from being a boring administrative exercise, is a valuable and fascinating resource for today’s planners and tomorrow’s historians alike. Take your place in history as it’s being written!”
“Census information is endlessly fascinating. Since the census began, it has been a mine of information offering us a chance to see how society has changed and is obviously still changing.”
"I wasn't all that sure of the purpose of a census until I spent some time tracing my family history a few years back and found that the census records were invaluable. The data contained was fascinating and gave a real insight into life at different stages in our history. And we need to keep them going for future generations, especially as life changes so rapidly these days."
"Northern Constabulary have been happy to offer suitable personal safety advice
and assistance to the enumerators who will be conducting the census rehearsal."
“I hope that all Lewis and Harris householders will take the opportunity to complete their census questionnaire on 29 March 2009. We have been very fortunate to have been selected by the Registrar General as one of two areas in Scotland to carry out the census rehearsal. Apart from giving people in Lewis and Harris the opportunity to shape the main census in 2011, it has also provided over 25 temporary jobs for the community at a time when the economy globally is in recession."
"Future planning of Scotland’s health service is shaped by the results of the census and local health boards rely on the data gathered by the census every ten years in order to determine the level of central government resources each board receives. That is why it is very important for everyone to take part in the census."
“Accurate current statistics are vital for planning our future at all levels. From local to national to international government, critical decisions are made about policy and resource allocation. For organisations in both the private sector and public sector knowing the current state of play is key to sourcing and keeping the best staff, and making decisions about investment and logistics to name but a few. Even for individuals and families planning their future, being clear about where we're at, is vitally helpful. West Edinburgh has a more successful growth rate than Shanghai so it's a perfect spot to see what can be done by a high achieving economy and what challenges remain."
"The census provides local government with the base information which it requires to plan for future service delivery – where we build new schools, how many elderly people need social services, how many cars are on our roads.
"It is the only source of reliable small area information which we have. If we want to know about your neighbourhood, we look to the census for the basic information."
“We know only too well that Scotland has a growing older population and with that comes increased needs. It’s really important that organisations such as ourselves know how many older people there are, how healthy they are and exactly where they are in order to ensure that they get the services and assistance they are entitled to, and that’s where the census comes in.”
"Questions on the Gaelic language have been asked in every Scottish census since 1881, when the case was made by the Gaelic Society of Inverness for a question on ability to speak Gaelic ' for the welfare of the Highlanders.' In recent censuses questions have also been asked on abilities to read, write and understand Gaelic. These questions have enabled details of the extent and distribution of Gaelic language abilities to be better understood, and determined.
"Since the last census, further measures have been set up to strengthen Gaelic:
• The 2005 Gaelic Language Act (Scotland)
• Bòrd na Gàidhlig was established as the Scottish Government's statutory Gaelic language authority in 2006
• A National Plan for Gaelic plus local and institutional plans have been developed from 2007 onwards
• BBC Alba, the Gaelic language television channel, started in 2008
• improvements for Gaelic in education have also been established.
"The census results will help provide more information in terms how the Gaelic language is used. The Gaelic language questions in the census will help future provision of facilities for Gaelic speakers, users, audiences and learners."
