Scottish census

[DomesticatedZombie]

Out very soon.

What is the data used for?

According to the adverts it's to plan service provision (schools, hospitals etc.). Of course, apparently you can just enter whatever you like into it, so I'm not sure how useful it will be....

Given that a major data field (sex) has been rendered meaningless by the ability to put whatever you fancy in it then who cares.

That's what I'm wondering. Very little info on the actual census online that I could find. I'm wondering what exactly they plan to use this data for ... and how I will 'identify'.

The questions / categorisations on Scot government forms do seem to have become more esoteric. I'm either going to tick a lot of " rather not says" or just not bother.

'The census asks questions about people’s age, sex, home and living situation, employment, education and qualifications, as well as ethnicity.

Every household in Scotland must complete the census and by doing so are helping to shape Scotland’s future.

Completing the census is important because the answers provide the Scottish Government, and many other service providers with the data they need to make important decisions that affect people’s lives and their communities.

These decisions include how money will be spent on important services like education, housing, healthcare, roads and railways, and so much more.'

IMPORTANT! DATA! FUTURE! MUST COMPLETE!

But you know, put anything you fancy down, it doesn't matter. Mixed messages, Scotgov!

www.visitscotland.org/news/2022/scotlands-census-2022

I’m going to request a paper copy. I need to figure out how!

'Just make sure you answer questions with information that will be correct on 20 March to ensure that we have a snapshot of the nation on this day.'

How will I know what my gender will be IN THE FUTURE?! Could be anything.

What happens if we don't fill it in?

You may be subject to legal action, Dino. Although some people failed to fill in the last one and nothing happened, I'm told.

Non compliance is a crime.

census.gov.uk/help/do-i-have-to-do-the-census/what-happens-if-i-dont-do-the-census

• actually that's E&W, I'll see if I can find relevant info for Scotland.

The census provides detailed information about Scotland's population, covering topics such as:

type of accommodation
household relationships
age, sex and health
employment, education and qualifications
religion and ethnic group
car and van ownership

New questions added for the 2022 census will collect information about:

trans status
sexual orientation
British Sign Language (BSL)
passports held
previous armed forces service

Just had a quick look at the consultation they did in 2015/2016. Sex was an essential demographic then especially combined with age... how things change.

Told dh as "master" of the house it's his job. He'd rather pay the fine.

Well they can't plan and reproductive/maternity care or sex-specific cancer provision as they will have no idea how many people of each sex there are.

I bet one of the question is :

Are you a nationalist?
Why are you not a nationalist?
What will it take to "convince" you to be a nationalist?
How big is your shrine to Saint Nicola?

And so on.

Census data is released after 100 years. Early ones don't have much info - name, sex, relationship to head of household, occupation, whether employed or employer, place of birth. Over the years they have added so much more about religion and all sorts of other stuff.

@Dinosauratemydaffodils

What happens if we don't fill it in?

Your descendants who are interested in genealogy will curse you to high heaven.

Do they really want you to state your sexual orientation? Fuck Off.

Your descendants who are interested in genealogy will curse you to high heaven.

We're already screwed on that front. My lot are mostly made up of immigrants fleeing from various things who changed their names a lot. One of my great grandmother's for example doesn't seem to exist until in her late teens she turned up in Ireland. Her eldest children including my grandfather all spoke fluent Russian as taught by her but she never confirmed or denied being Russian originally. On the other side of the family, my paternal grandfather didn't know who either of his parents were.

@LizzieMacQueen

Do they really want you to state your sexual orientation? Fuck Off.

That was my immediate response, too. What the fuck do they need to know that for? Intrusive and unnecessary, I feel.