FOI reference: FOI-2026-3446
You asked
Please provide the latest business case for Census 2031.
We said
Thank you for your request.
We have recently published information on how we plan to conduct the 2031 Census, which may be of interest to you. Please see our blog on this topic, which provides an update on the topic consultation, looks ahead to the operational test next year, and explains how the ONS will publish its annual population estimates. Please also see our Census 2031 Strategy for England and Wales, which provides details of our goals and objectives.
Unfortunately, we are not in a position to disclose the 2031 Census strategic outline at this stage. This document is feeding into live decision-making regarding the development, validation, and formulation of government policy on how best to conduct the census programme. As such, the contents of this report are exempt from disclosure under Section 35(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).
This exemption is subject to a public interest test. We appreciate there is public interest in transparency, which could be met by this disclosure so the public can understand current ideas and plans for how we will conduct the census. However, the ONS is practicing transparency in this area already, as referenced above, and going forward, in line with best practice, we plan to publish a summary business case.
We must also consider the public interest in allowing time and space for quality decision-making regarding plans for the 2031 Census. This space is necessary to facilitate open debate regarding next steps. Prejudice to this space would reduce the efficacy of this policy formulation process, which would not be in the public interest.
The weight therefore falls in favour of withholding the information at this stage.