Is my personal information safe?
Yes – keeping your personal information secure and confidential is a top priority for the census. The information provided is protected by law and any unauthorised disclosure is a criminal offence with penalties including possible imprisonment and fines. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) takes this very seriously.
What happens to the information collected?
Now that the 2011 Census is completed, ONS will produce statistics, such as population estimates – or figures relating to one topic or another. These statistics will be for the people in a defined area, not individual people or households. The statistics are prepared in such a way that no personal information is available. Census statistics are used by central government and local authorities to help make decisions about future services and allocate funding.
Will my personal information be shared with other government departments? Or marketing agencies?
Absolutely not – Personal census information is not shared with any other government departments, nor with any marketing companies.
How do ONS make sure the information is kept secure and confidential?
All the information collected is owned by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and won’t leave the UK. The data is processed within a secure building, and access to the data is strictly controlled. Your personal information is protected under the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007; everyone working on the census is checked and signs an undertaking of confidentiality. The security systems and safeguards that ONS have in place have been rigourously tested.
What about data protection?
The Office for National Statistics and the census complies fully with all data protection legislation.
But isn’t information from previous censuses available online?
The 2011 Census records will remain confidential for 100 years – and only then will a copy of the completed census records be released. Historical census records are of great interest to many people researching their family history.
Was it just as safe to complete the census questionnaire online?
Absolutely. A unique reference on each paper questionnaire acted as an internet security code for accessing and completing an online census return. The online process was designed with security built in, and a range of testing was undertaken by ONS and by independent security experts.
