1. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people CENSUS DEVELOPMENTS IN SCOTLAND Kirsty MacLean General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) 2007 BSPS Conference, St. Andrews

2. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people AIM The best Census ever …. High quality population statistics Geared to user needs Accurate for small areas and small population groups Comparable with 2001 and rest of UK … in more challenging circumstances

3. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people CONSULTATION PROGRAMME First consultation in Autumn 2004 Second consultation ended 7 June Formal proposal to Parliament Autumn 2008 Rehearsal Spring 2009 Census Order and Census Regulations to Parliament early 2010

4. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Current working assumptions Hoping for 4 pages of individual questions – but only possible if funding secured 2-column layout

5. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Household Questions

6. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Household Questions Working assumption of one page Less pressure for space than individual questions User requirements for housing questions

7. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Household questions - Likely to be included Accommodation type Household tenure Type of landlord Central Heating Self-contained accommodation Number of rooms Number of vehicles

8. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Household questions – Under consideration State of repairs Household income Telephone number

9. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Spring 2007 Consultation: Income Majority in favour of a question on income A few commented against Preference for personal income question, but household sufficient if space constraints

10. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Household questions – Not likely to be included Topics from 2001 Access to bath/shower and toilet Lowest floor level Furnished/Unfurnished

11. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Household questions – Not likely to be included New Topics Registered Croft Internet access –Rapidly changing –Decrease in utility of outputs Garden access Pet ownership Eat meals together Renewable energy sources –User need not high enough to justify inclusion

12. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Spring 2007 Consultation: Housing Quality General support for new format Central Heating question Some support for information on State of Repairs Limited support for energy efficiency question Very limited support for crofting question

13. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Possible questionnaire content - Individual questions

14. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Factors considered Support main objectives of Census –Maximise overall response rates and minimise differences across areas / population groups Meet strongest user requirements –Government resource allocation / Policy development Continuity with existing Census information

15. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Individual questions - Likely to be included Basic demographics –Name –Sex –Date of Birth –Marital/Civil Partnership status Other basic information –Student status Term-time address

16. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Individual questions - Likely to be included Migration –Country of birth –Address one year ago

17. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Individual questions - Under consideration Migration - New Topics –Month and Year of arrival in UK/Scotland –Citizenship

18. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Spring 2007 Consultation: Migration Support for address one year ago and country of birth Some support for month and year of entry Little support for citizenship question

19. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Individual questions - Likely to be included Ethnicity, Identity, Language & Religion –Ethnic group –National identity –Gaelic language question –Religion

20. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Spring 2007 Consultation: Language Majority in favour of question collecting information on languages English (and Gaelic) most requested Also requested Eastern European and minority ethnic languages, BSL Polarised views on Scots language

21. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Individual questions - Likely to be included Health and care –Health status –Long-term illness / disability –Carer

22. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Spring 2007 Consultation: Health and Care Strong support for extended question on limiting long term illness Strong support for carers question General support for 5 point scale used in general health question

23. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Individual questions - Likely to be included National Statistics Socio-Economic Class (NS-SEC) –Occupation –Self-employed or employee –Supervisor status –Ever worked

24. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Individual questions - Likely to be included Other labour market –Economic activity – 5 questions –Address of workplace –Travel to work

25. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Individual questions - Under consideration Labour market - topics from 2001 –Industry –Hours worked –Name of employer

26. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Spring 2007 Consultation: NS-SEC & Labour market Majority opposed to collection of less detailed data Strong support for retention of questions on industry and hours worked Less support for question on size of workplace

27. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Individual questions - Under consideration Topics from 2001 –Qualifications

28. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Spring 2007 Consultation: Qualifications Majority support and state clear requirement for retention of question on qualifications Wide range of uses identified

29. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Individual questions - Under consideration New Topics –Second residences Spring 2007 Consultation: Second residences Over half indicated interest in topic Small proportion felt high priority Responses split on whether data would be used

30. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Individual questions - Not likely to be included New topics –Large number of new topics requested Sexual Identity Country of previous residence Negative Discrimination Children given birth to How safe you feel in your area

31. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people The Next Steps Further consideration will be given to topics for inclusion over the coming months…. Responses to recent consultation and other evidence Input from Scottish Government Technical considerations Continued liaison with other UK Census offices

32. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Internet Completion Current working assumption is to offer an internet option for Households to complete Census forms. Current assumption is that all Households will still receive a paper form. Internet only supplementary.

33. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Internet Completion Number of challenges still to be addressed: Security Authentication of households Enumeration strategy is traditional hand delivery - how will Internet interact Over enumeration Processing becomes more complex

34. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Gaelic In 2001 we provided a Gaelic leaflet but not a Gaelic questionnaire. Working with SE Gaelic Unit and Bòrd na Gàidhlig to see how best to comply with 2005 Gaelic Language Act

35. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Gaelic Range of possibilities Gaelic (or bilingual) questionnaire Leaflet with translation of questions to Gaelic Gaelic language facility on Census Helpline Gaelic online completion

36. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Census Test Evaluation Research Young Men and the Census Research by TNS System 3 for GROS

37. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people

38. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Background In the 2001 Census, around 200,000 people in Scotland did not complete the Census form Lower levels of completion were evident among a number of target groups, including young men, aged 18-30 –West Dunbartonshire was identified as an area where completion rates among this group were particularly low

39. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Background Qualitative research was commissioned –to explore attitudes towards the Census –to identify factors influencing participation and non- participation

40. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Audience characteristics Completers Higher sense of social responsibility Many feel they have nothing to hide; therefore nothing to lose in completing the form Some evidence of wariness towards the government, however Non Completers Self-interested; alienated from society Deeply suspicious of government: ‘out to get them’ Some ‘playing’ the benefits system; defensive Poorly educated, staunchly patriotic

41. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Awareness & understanding of the Census Awareness of the Census is patchy –understanding of its purpose limited (often non-existent) –especially among non completers Better informed individuals tend to acknowledge its statistical importance as a data gathering exercise… –…but feel that nothing really happens as a result of doing it; unsure as to why the government needs the information – genealogy / historical records? – taxes?

42. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Three main attitudinal groups: each share a common thread… What is the Census for? UNINFORMED AND CAN’T BE BOTHERED UNINFORMED AND WORRIED ABOUT REPERCUSSIONS UNINFORMED, BUT ‘SOMETHING YOU SHOULD DO’

43. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Lack of understanding of the Census is a key issue… THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO CATCH ME OUT WHAT’S THE POINT? NOTHING SEEMS TO CHANGE AS A RESULT NO OBVIOUS PERSONAL OR SOCIAL GAIN ABOUT REDUCING BENEFITS OR INCREASING TAXES THE GOVERNMENT AREN’T INTERESTED IN HELPING ME ABOUT ‘POLITICAL CORRECTNESS’ FEEL IGNORED

44. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Barriers to Census form completion Two main issues LACK OF UNDERSTANDING LACK OF INCENTIVE Purpose of Census unclear: a ‘pointless’ exercise? Government mistrust: Fear of repercussions Not compulsory No obvious personal benefit or benefit to the local community Have no particular desire to ‘help’ the government anyway Intimidating, uninviting form: looks like it might take a long time to complete

45. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Encouraging Census form completion LACK OF UNDERSTANDING LACK OF INCENTIVE Ensure that individuals understand the purpose of the Census Reassure that the Census is not designed to catch them out Ensure that all communication materials (including the form) are written in simple, clear terms Appeal to Scottish pride Emphasise the benefits of the Census for them and their community

46. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Response to the Form

47. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people First impressions count… Combination of brown envelope and window commonly identified as either ‘Junk’ or ‘Trouble’ ‘Dear Householder’ immediately suggests ‘Unimportant’ Text uninspiring; no reason to open the envelope or take interest in its contents; looks like hard work ‘Who?’ Can’t assume everyone knows what this is and understands its importance

48. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people The form: Appearance The overall ‘look’ of the form is uninviting for many; too ‘official’ (For those who read it) the introductory paragraph is not compelling –

49. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people The form: Content In some cases, terminology can be confusing e.g. What is your marital or civil partnership status? Some questions give rise to suspicion e.g. How many hours a week do you work?

50. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people General Advertising awareness for the Test Census was very low As a result, the Census forms arrived with practically no advance warning Most recipients were uninformed

51. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Conclusions & Recommendations

52. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Conclusions & recommendations The most fundamental barriers to form completion appear to be – lack of understanding – lack of trust – lack of incentive The first two barriers are the most difficult to overcome: –require education in something that most will not be interested in learning about

53. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Conclusions & recommendations Those who feel they have something to hide will be a difficult audience to persuade There is, nonetheless, value in attempting to educate on a general level about the purpose behind the Census BEFORE the form arrives –even those who feel they have nothing to hide can still be concerned about the consequences of completing the form

54. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Conclusions & recommendations There is a need to: –offer reassurance about the purpose of the Census –emphasise the importance of the individual’s contribution / tap into social conscience –consider changing the appearance of the form to something less ‘official’

55. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Conclusions & recommendations Emphasising the Scottish focus of the form in both publicity and in the form pack may encourage non- completers Perhaps need to emphasis that may not need to complete the whole form? Branding should be more obvious on envelope & inside pack

56. General Register Office for S C O T L A N D information about Scotland's people Thanks for listening Questions?