2011 Census

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Introduction

The 2011 Census takes place in England and Wales on 27 March 2011. A census is a count of a population and one has been held in England and Wales every 10 years since 1801 (except during the Second World War in 1941). The information that the census provides helps to identify the characteristics (age, gender, etc) of the population and helps central and local government to understand the needs of local communities, and plan and prioritise resources and public spending on housing, education, health and transport services for years to come. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is responsible for running the census in England and Wales and to producing the statistics that are vital to understanding your needs and those of your communities for the future. In Wiltshire the ONS is being supported by Wiltshire Council.

The questionnaire

Every household receives a questionnaire to complete and return. The questionnaire asks straightforward questions and is available in English, Welsh, large print and Braille. For those householders whose first language is not English or Welsh, translation booklets are available in 56 different languages as well as language support via our telephone helpline. The questionnaire can be completed online or on paper and must be completed in English or Welsh.

ONS is committed to ensuring that data contained in every census questionnaire is completely confidential. When your questionnaire is returned to ONS it is scanned and the information is stored securely. The Government has agreed that your personal census information must remain confidential for 100 years. This is protected by law. The answers that you give will be turned into anonymous statistics. This makes it impossible to work out who or where the answers came from and so any details will remain completely confidential. These statistics are then analysed and used to help make decisions to improve the way we will live in the future.

How you can help

• Help to identify hard to reach groups so they can be sent copies of the census
• Assist vulnerable people to fill in the census

Want to know more

• Frequently asked questions
• ONS - Office of National Statistics
• If you have have any questions about the census please visit the census website or call 0300 0201 101

Last updated: 7 March 2011