Census forms...

[TonyN]

I`m much more concerned about This

God help Biohazzard!!!

[flounderbout]

You're all weird. I filled it in online. It took five minutes. 'They' haven't come after me yet.

Yes but now you'll have to do it again. Because it has to be done on 27 March 2011. Everything may have changed by then...

[jmc]

I've not made my mind up yet, but that is purely down to trust / data protection issues.

I think this man summed up my feelings quite well.

[flounderbout]

I've not made my mind up yet, but that is purely down to trust / data protection issues.

I think this man summed up my feelings quite well.

Genius...

[HONEST AL]

Census forms

Just spotted an article in Saturdays Daily Mail,

"question 17 is only for Scottish or Welsh form fillers in,apparently the question is"

How well do you speak English

Only in the U.K.

[Albannach]

Just spotted an article in Saturdays Daily Mail,

"question 17 is only for Scottish or Welsh form fillers in,apparently the question is"

How well do you speak English

Only in the U.K.

Typical DM shite. Q17 has nothing to do with the Scottish Census Q17 in Scotland is totally different. It asks Welsh people if they speak Welsh.

[Rich_ac_uk]

I was thinking of using this or something similar......

Office for National Statistics
Government Buildings
Cardiff Road
Newport
South Wales
...NP10 8XG

Notice of Conditional Acceptance and Request for Clarification

Dear Ms. Matheson,

I write in response to the Census form received on --/03/2011.

I must admit to being a little confused, it was my understanding that the census was instigated as a simple numerical count of the population; however, the information required in this census form far exceeds this mandate.

I am happy to complete this census form subject to receipt of clarification of the following points.

1. What law requires me to complete the census?
2. From where does the Office for National Statistics derive the lawful authority to demand private information?
3. Is there a limit to invasion of privacy?
4. Is the Office for National Statistics lawfully authorised to demand Private property?
5. How can we be penalised for failure to provide information
6. Are there any circumstances whereby security agencies may access census information?
7. Since census data be requested by law enforcement, can I not answer so as to not to incriminate myself?
8. Since every government database has been hacked, leaked, lost or compromised in some fashion, how can the Office for National Statistics claim data security with any confidence?
9. Is the Office for National Statistics responsible for mishandled data?
10. What evidence do you have that I am a United Kingdom Resident?
11. Can you confirm or deny that the census data will be handled by an American Arms Manufacturer Lockheed Martin?
12. Can you confirm or deny that all U.S. companies are subject to the Patriot Act which allows the U.S. Government full access to any data in that company’s possession?
13. Can you confirm or deny that the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 section 39 subsection 4 would allow disclosure of personal information to any and/or all o the following:
• The 56 geographical and 8 non-geographical UK Police Forces.
• The three UK Intelligence Agencies (MI5, MI6 and GCHQ).
• The Department for Work and Pensions.
• Private investigators working for the Department for Work and Pensions to hunt down “benefits cheats”.
• Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs tax investigators.
• “Approved” Insurance Industry “anti-fraud” investigators / private investigators.
• The Home Office Borders and Immigration Agency.
• The Serious Organised Crime Agency (either for domestic investigations into Serious Crimes, or for these and also for minor investigations if requested by a Foreign Law Enforcement agency under Mutual Legal Assistance treaties.
• Lawyers in civil Court Cases e.g. for Divorce or Libel or Copyright Infringement etc.
• Local Authority Trading Standards departments.
• Local Authority Environmental Health departments.

Please provide your response in the form of a Statement of Truth, sworn under penalty of perjury and upon your full commercial liability within seven (7) days of receipt of this notice, I respectfully return your census form until such time as these conditions are met.
If I do not receive such a response conforming to the above criteria within, it will be deemed a tacit agreement by your acquiescence that this census is unlawful and that I have no obligation to participate.

Sincerely without malice, ill will, vexation or frivolity

[gwh200]

Perhaps you can do what I did...just fill it in.
I did it online, and supplied names. Any other question I filled with nonsense...much like my posts here.
Actually, I do like that as a form I'd protest.
Perhaps our resident legal wallah can enlighten us as to wether or nor we need to fill it in.

[Apache]

Can Judwak legally reply 'gibberish' to question 18?

[JUDWAK]

why whats question 18?

[Apache]

Something about your main language.

[JUDWAK]

i speak yorkshireish nowt wrong with that

[flounderbout]

Dear Rich,

1. What law requires me to complete the census?
The legal requirement to complete a census return, for England and Wales, is set out in Section 8 (1) of the Census Act 1920 and in the Census (England and Wales) Order 2009, Census (England) Regulations 2010 and Census (Wales) Regulations 2010.

2. From where does the Office for National Statistics derive the lawful authority to demand private information?
See above.

3. Is there a limit to invasion of privacy?
There is no free standing right to privacy enshrined in English law, despite some judicial movement in this direction in Douglas v Hello. The census obligations are compliant with the Human Rights Act 1998.

4. Is the Office for National Statistics lawfully authorised to demand Private property?

Information is not property. Certain types of intellectual property are akin to property rights, but it is well established that mere information is not.

5. How can we be penalised for failure to provide information?
You may be fined up to £1000 plus costs (see 1 above).

6. Are there any circumstances whereby security agencies may access census information?
No. See the legislation at 1 above (however your government could legislate to change this)

7. Since census data may be requested by law enforcement, can I not answer so as to not to incriminate myself?
It may not be. See previous response. So no.

8. Since every government database has been hacked, leaked, lost or compromised in some fashion, how can the Office for National Statistics claim data security with any confidence?
The security arrangements covering the handling and processing of census information will be subject to an independent review. The Independent Information Assurance Review report is available to download from the Office for National Statistics website. And no, “every government database” has not been hacked or compromised”.

9. Is the Office for National Statistics responsible for mishandled data?
Yes.

10. What evidence do you have that I am a United Kingdom Resident?
The census forms are sent to householders and required to be filled in by residents. If you are not a UK resident, feel free not to fill it in.

11. Can you confirm or deny that the census data will be handled by an American Arms Manufacturer Lockheed Martin?
I think you know the answer to this.

12. Can you confirm or deny that all U.S. companies are subject to the Patriot Act which allows the U.S. Government full access to any data in that company’s possession?
This is not the effect of the Patriot Act. That act only applies to information held in the USA or electronically available in the USA. Neither will apply to the census information.

13. Can you confirm or deny that the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 section 39 subsection 4 would allow disclosure of personal information to any and/or all of the following (various departments):
People or households cannot be identified from the statistical outputs produced from the census. Furthermore the 2011 Census applies Statistical Disclosure Control measures to prevent the release of statistical information that might reveal the characteristics of an individual person or household. Thus no-one can be identified from the aggregated statistics that are published.
In any event the Statistics (etc) Act applies only to information held by the Statistics Board. The census information will not be disclosed to the Statistics Board - only aggregated statistical data derived from it.

If I do not receive such a response conforming to the above criteria within, it will be deemed a tacit agreement by your acquiescence that this census is unlawful and that I have no obligation to participate.
Agreement cannot result from silence or failure to respond, regardless of the terms of the offer. This is one of the longer standing principles of contract law.

Kind regards,
Ms Mathieson
PS, In the light of your communication we have added one further question to your census form for 2011.
BONUS QUESTION - Are you a regular Daily Mail reader?

[Sancho]

It's just a census, FFS, people.

[schrodingers-cat]

It's just a census, FFS, people.

Its just the man telling you what to do and threatening you with a big stick if you dont do it.
Thin end of the wedge and all that
Besides that. The contract to do it was given to the yanks when unemployment over here is pretty bad and a company that deals in arms too
Do ya think if the the Americans were petty enough to be wanting a census they`d stand for it being dome by us
Then there`s the fact hardly anyone will tell the truth on it so its useless for the reason it was intended
Got better things to do with half an hour of my life than fill some bullsh1t form in
If they pay me for my time i`ll do and as thats unlikely i`m not in