JOINT UN-ECE/EUROSTAT MEETING ON POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUSES

GENEVA, 28-30 OCTOBER 2009

ADOPTING THE CES RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE 2011 UK CENSUS

IAN WHITE, Office for National Statistics,

UNITED KNGDOM

EU CENSUS (Framework) REGULATION 763/2008

• Defines the ‘Core’ topics • Prescribes the first ‘reference year’ as 2011• Provides for Implementing Regulations to cover:

(a) The output classifications (breakdowns) and technical specifications for each topic

(b) The programme of statistical tables (hypercubes) and metadata to be provided

(c) The means of data transmission (the EU Census Hub) by March 2014

(d) The scope and content of the Quality Reports

2011 CENSUS IN THE UK: WHY?

The Census is used to:• allocate resources• plan investment and services• support policy development and evaluation• provide a 10-year benchmark for all social statistics• give nationally consistent data for small areas and small

population groups

CHALLENGES FOR THE UK CENSUS

Changes in society• Ageing• Homelessness• Increased migration• Complex family structures• Increased mobility• Less compliance

Meeting the public’s expectations• On line interaction• Ensuring data security and confidentiality

Meeting EU requirements

AIMS OF THE 2011 UK CENSUS

• Produce high quality population estimates• Maintain overall response rate but improve rates in the

hardest to count areas and groups• Work closely with LAs and community groups• Improve quality assurance and increase trust in results• Produce flexible outputs, while protecting confidentiality• Meet user needs for new information

NEW TOPICS IN THE 2011 UK CENSUS

• Civil partnership status• National identity• Citizenship• Year of entry into UK• Intended length of stay in UK• Language• Second residence• Type of central heating• Number of bedrooms

CRITERIA FOR TOPIC SELECTION IN UK

• Clear and demonstrated need• National importance• No other comparable source• Requirement for multivariate analysis• Comparability with 2001• Public acceptability and burden• No adverse impact on response• Reliable and accurate data• Cost of processing• Required only for statistical purposes

• Required by EU

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

• No education/less than ISCED Level 1

• Level 2 (primary)• Level 3 (lower secondary)• Level 4 (upper secondary)• Level 5 (1st stage tertiary)• Level 6 (2nd stage tertiary)• Not stated

UK will use question on Educational qualifications

PLACE OF USUAL RESIDENCE FOR PRIMARY/SECONDAY SCHOOLCHILDREN

CES/EU Definition• At parental home address

UK definition• At term-time address

UK will also collect some information on students at their homeaddress and will adjust the total usual resident population base

EVER RESIDED ABROAD AND YEAR OF ENTRY

Ever resided abroad and arrived after 1979• 2011• 2010

:

:• 1981• 1980

Ever resided abroad and arrived before 1979

Never resided abroad

UK will assume all UK born as non-migrants

CITIZENSHIP

Concept of citizenship not well understood in UK.Scotland may ‘model’ data from other census questions.

HOUSING AMENITIES

Piped water Toilet facilities Bath/shower

UK may use data derived from 2001 Census or assume 100 per cent incidence

PERIOD OF CONSTRUCTION OF DWELLING

• Built before 1919• 1919-1945• 1946-1960• 1961-1970• 1971-1980• 1981- 1990• 1991-2000• 2001-2005• 2006 or later

UK will use alternative data sources such as Valuation Office

CONCLUSIONS

Brussels or Westminster ?

Westminster: just like Brussels - but with less garlic