You asked
FOI/2021/2474
Could you tell me the annual ONS budget for postage costs related to all surveys, as per your most recent and up to date figures.
We said
Thank you for your request.
The annual budget for ONS survey related postage expenditure in 2021/22 (April-21 to March-22) is £5,760,000.00.
This figure includes budgets for ongoing 'business as usual' activity but also includes budgets for enhanced temporary activity relating to the COVID-19 Infection Survey as a direct result of the UK's ongoing response to the COVID pandemic; and significantly increased but again temporary activity as a result of the delivery of Census 21.
Please also note, the budget figure quoted is accurate as at end of June 2021 and will be subject to variation as we progress through financial year 2021/22. For full actual postage costs incurred each financial year, please refer to the UKSA's published Annual Report and Accounts which can be found here: https://uksa.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/?s=annual+report+and+accounts