50,000 Households to Rehearse Scotland's Next Census

10 January 2008

Western Isles and West Edinburgh residents are set to test the arrangements for Scotland’s next census, the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) announced today.

Around 50,000 households will receive a questionnaire as part of a rehearsal in Spring 2009. Responses will help GROS assess whether the census questions and delivery and processing arrangements are suitable for the Scotland-wide census in 2011.

The 2009 Census Rehearsal will run in two parts of Scotland involving 40,500 West Edinburgh households and 10,400 in Lewis and Harris.

Registrar General Duncan Macniven said:

“The census provides a clear picture of Scotland’s population. Understanding how old people are, which languages we speak and how healthy we are allows local authorities to plan ahead and meet our changing needs.

“Western Isles and West Edinburgh residents will be the first to test the questions we propose to ask, and the arrangements we plan to put in place, for Scotland’s next census in 2011.

“Lewis and Harris residents have a vital role to play in examining improvements to questionnaires and information for Gaelic speakers. GROS will work with Bòrd na Gàidhlig to develop these improvements during 2008.

“The responses from West Edinburgh residents will help us check that we have the right ways to count people in communal establishments such as hospitals, student accommodation and care homes.

“Selecting the Western Isles and West Edinburgh is the first step towards our 2009 rehearsal. Our next is to decide its date and which questions to ask. We expect to take these decisions this Spring. Questionnaires will be delivered to households in time for the rehearsal day in 2009.

“Everyone’s contribution will be treated confidentially. The answers and feedback will be reviewed to help us ask the right questions and make the best arrangements for Scotland’s 2011 Census.”

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