To want to tell you that the census is supposd to be filledi n on the 27th MARCH

[hairylights]

and not when you get it?

People all over mumsnet seem to be filling it in already?

linky which explains why

you can part complete it and go back when you like. I had to do that when I didnt know all dh's work info - you just choose a password and go back and do the rest when you want.

When do I do it?
Do it now. We are ready and waiting now to receive your completed questionnaire and tick you off the list.

We need to take a snapshot of the population as it stands on one day ? to give a consistent picture for the whole country.

From the link in the OP.....

Just mildly off topic, is it wrong that I am ridiculously pleased to be one of the few that know about Q17?

Still not got ours.

Yes, why is there an intentionally blank question - is it some kind of intelligence test?

I'm waiting to fill ours in in case one of us dies.

They cleared up the "mystery" of Q17 the other day on radio or the BBC website, didn't they, for those who are outside Wales and don't get asked !

I was a teeny bit disappointed to only find one 'optional' question (religion) where I could leave it blank...

Not very happy that some American firm won the contract as however much UK Governments have made promises about their "special relationship" with the USA, the USA does not seem to feel it is particularly special, and I don't have faith in them sticking with promises made if there are pressures brought to bear on them - wonder if the US Dept of Homeland Security will ask for (and get) a copy of the UK census so can be quite up to date on any so-called "enemies of the state" because of Middle Eastern origins etc...

Ah, that makes sense NetworkGuy. Was hoping for a more exciting explanation though.

I'm another one with a baby due at the end of March. I filled it in online so that I could put just me, DH and DD1 then save it and add DD2 if she arrives before then.

I am a bit anal and can see OP's point, so I really liked the option of filling it in now and amending it later if anything changed.

I was dissapointed at how boring the questions were though.

Q17:
Can you understand, speak, read or write Welsh?

Question 17 (online questionnaire)

Click the appropriate boxes if you can: understand spoken Welsh, speak, read, or write Welsh. Select all that apply.

If you can?t do any of these things, click "None of the above".

It is up to you to judge your own ability in Welsh.

If your child is too young to do these things, select the options to show what your child can do now.
Select all that apply
o Can you understand, speak, read or write Welsh?Understand spoken Welsh
o Speak Welsh
o Read Welsh
o Write Welsh
o None of the above

Unless you are due to have a baby prior to 27 march then where's the harm in filling it in?

Actually, some blog the other day quoted from the Act and then asked if the online system allowing data to be entered early is almost entrapment, because the wording of the Act forbids early completion...

Someone else pointed out the data could be held in limbo until 27/28 March to avoid this 'problem'.