You asked
(1) Will you keep the paper forms that householders have completed in 2021, and if not will you retain digital scans of the entire forms? I am asking because I know that some householders have added additional information in the hope that their descendants will be able to see it when the census is published in 2122.
(2) Have all of the household schedules from censuses from 1951-2011 been retained and/or scanned in their entirety?
(3) Does 'overnight on 21 March' mean the night of 21/22 Mar or the night of 20/21 March? If the former, why are householders asked to complete the form on 21 March?
(4) One part of the 2021 Census relates to second homes occupied for 30 days or more in a year. Were householders expected to answer this question based on the previous calendar year, the previous 365 days (for much of which holidays, especially overseas holidays were illegal), expectations for the current calendar year, or based on a normal (non-pandemic) year?
We said
Thank you for your Freedom of Information enquiry requesting information about the retention of census forms and clarification of census night and the completion of information for second homes.
1. Digital image scans will be made of the entire forms which will enable descendants to see the additional information when the forms are released to the public. After scanning all questionnaires are held in a secure warehouse pending the acceptance of the data. Once approved, all questionnaires are securely shredded by a company authorised to handle sensitive paper waste and the shredded paper is sent to a paper mill to be recycled.
2. The household schedules from 1951 -2001 have been securely retained. The forms from 2011 were scanned in their entirety.
3. Census Day was 21 March 2021, returns were to be made for people alive at midnight at the end of census day. Please see The Census (England and Wales) Order 2020.
4. Please see the following guidance with regards to second homes, which will answer your query.