Online launch of the Census 2021 on 22 February 2021

You asked

​Please provide me with all information held by the ONS on or prior to 18 February 2021 concerning the ONS's plans to undertake an online launch of the Census 2021 on 22 February 2021.

We said

Thank you for your request.

The plans for our operation have evolved over time, based on our user research, previous census experience, the 2019 dress rehearsal and consultation with our suppliers around operational considerations.

In May 2020 we finalised the date of go live for the eQ at 23/2/21. This part of the operation remained unchanged, as can be seen in the final Wave of Contact (WoC) model produced in January 2021. Please see relevant extracts from the documents named:

• Wave_of_Contact_for_2021_HH_v4
• Wave_of_Contact_for_2021_HH_v7

In January 2021 we undertook a risk assessment around the go live in the light of the immediate post-Christmas lockdown restrictions. We explored the risks further but confirmed the timeline as per v7.0 of the WoC. Please see relevant extracts from the documents named 'Census Risk Assessment - Jan 2021'.

Confirmation of readiness to go live in accordance with the plans was given by the Census and Data Collection Transformation Programme Board meeting on 8 February 2021. This followed a series of assurance meetings during January culminating in a final readiness assessment which was presented.

Please see relevant extracts from the documents named:

• 'Census_and_Data_Collection_Programme_Board_GoNo Go for Census 2021 Collection phase_09022021'
• 'Readiness_Assessment'

We went live on the evening of the 22 February. This was a technical decision taken to mitigate the risks around resolving any potential issues in the go live process. To assure that the system would be available from the 23^rd, it went live on the afternoon of the 22^nd.

Personal data of all those external to ONS and at Senior Executive Officer (SEO) level and below have been redacted in line with Section 40 (2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

Some information from the documents provided have been redacted, as they are out of scope of this FOI.