You asked
I read in this blog:
that the census response rate has been 97 percent.
Can you please provide the dataset from which this factoid is drawn?
Ideally I'd like to see the target number and returns figure for each output area across the country.
https://www.ons.gov.uk/census/2001censusandearlier/dataandproducts/outputgeography/outputareas
We said
Thank you for your request.
The underlying data for the 97% response-rate figure that you have quoted in your request and the number of Census returns per output area are currently feeding into ongoing research into the success of the census. As such, this information is considered exempt under Section 22A of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).
The release of the requested data would jeopardise the research project, as this research is currently incomplete and therefore the publication of the findings at this stage could be misleading by falsely representing the 2021 Census programme.
At present we are still processing the data we have collected. This is unlikely to significantly change at national level, but may change for smaller area levels. As we process the data, we go through a range of cleaning routines and undertake a comprehensive quality assurance process to have confidence that we meet the standards of national statistics. Prior to this work being carried out, the data may lead to implications about, for example, the number of households which would be subject to change and would be misleading if used for other purposes (such as the denominator for other rates of measures).
Consequently, the release of this information in its current state would undermine the purpose of this research, which includes accurately representing the response-rate of the Census.
This exemption is subject to a public interest test. We recognise the desirability of information being freely available and this is considered by ONS when publication schedules are set in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics. The need for timely data must be balanced against the practicalities of applying statistical skill and judgement to produce the high quality, assured data needed to inform decision-making, which requires time and space. If this balance is incorrectly applied, then we run the risk of decisions being based on inaccurate data which is not in the public interest. This will have an impact on public trust in official statistics in a time when accuracy of official statistics is more important to the public than ever before.
However, you may be interested to know that we will be publishing response rates at LSOA level in the future. This information is expected to be published following our first release.
We can confirm that we do not hold target response rates for each output area across the country.