From the General Register Office for Scotland (abridged):
Scotland's next census will include new questions on language, household income and national identity, it was announced today.
And for the first time, most people will be able to complete their household questionnaire online when the census - Scotland's biggest and most comprehensive population survey - is held on March 27, 2011.
The Scottish Government today published a Policy Statement giving details of the plans for the census. Parliamentary approval of the census proposals will be sought in early 2010.
The new language questions will ask how well people speak English and if they use any languages other than English, for example Gaelic, Scots or British Sign Language, at home. Under ethnic group and national identity, new tick boxes are provided for English, Welsh, Northern Irish, British, gypsy/traveller and Polish. There is a new 'African, Caribbean or Black' category and a new tick box for 'Other Ethnic Group'. People will also be given the option of describing themselves as 'Scottish', 'English', 'British', 'Polish', 'Indian' or 'Other'. A question on household income will be included for the first time, with people able to indicate their weekly or annual income.
Personal information collected in the census is kept confidential for 100 years. The information collected is used only for the production of statistics and for statistical research. It can only be accessed by a small number of people who must ensure it stays confidential and who would face prosecution if they disclosed it.
The census will be carried out by the Registrar General for Scotland and his staff in the General Register Office for Scotland, with the help of 12 specialist contractors.
The full press release is at www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/12/11142331
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
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