Closed consultations and results
13 July to 5 October 2021 - Census 2021 outputs: content design and release phase proposals
We carried out a consultation from 13 July 2021 to 5 October 2021 on our proposals for the content design and release of Census 2021 data and analysis.
On 16 December 2021, we published part one of our response to the feedback we received about phase one of the Census 2021 outputs release schedule.
On 31 March 2022, we published part two of our response to the feedback we received about the later phases of the Census 2021 outputs release schedule.
The aim of the consultation was to gather census users' feedback on our proposals for the content design and release of Census 2021 outputs, for England and Wales. The proposals outlined how we plan to release census data in a phased approach and what analysis we plan to conduct to draw insights from that data.
These questions covered all phases of the release schedule. These phases are:
Phase one: Population estimates cross tabulated by age and sex, household estimates, and other univariate data published as part of topic summaries or area profiles
Phase two: Multivariate data for the usual resident, household, and communal establishment population bases
Phase three: Alternative population bases, small populations, origin-destination and microdata
Beyond 2023: UK data, and more complex analysis
5 November to 18 December 2020 – ONS Census 2021 Output Geography Policy, products and services
We carried out a consultation from 5 November 2020 to 18 December 2020 on Census 2021 Output Geography Policy, products and services.
On 12 March 2021, we published our response to the user feedback we received from the consultation.
The aim of the consultation was to gather census users’ views on our plans for the dissemination of census statistics and our proposed Census Geography Policy. This policy focuses largely on our plans for maintaining small area geographies; Output Areas, Lower Layer Super Output Areas, and Middle Layer Super Output Areas. We also set out our plans for producing geography products and services. The feedback we received will help us prioritise our future research and development of Census 2021 geography outputs.
28 February to 23 May 2018 – Initial View on Census 2021 Output Content Design
We carried out a consultation from 28 February 2018 to 23 May 2018 on our Initial View on Census 2021 Output Content Design.
On 18 December 2018, we published our response to the user feedback we received in the consultation.
Previously, on 15 August 2018, we published a short update on the responses received in the consultation.
The consultation aimed to gather our data users’ views on our initial design of 2021 Census outputs to ensure our proposal will meet their needs. This feedback will help us to prioritise our future research and development of 2021 Census outputs. It will also inform the order in which we release our products.
28 June to 20 September 2017 – Estimating the number of rooms and bedrooms in the 2021 Census: An alternative approach using Valuation Office Agency data – consultation
Following the 2021 Census topic consultation, where it was decided it was not appropriate to continue to ask two questions on the number of rooms and bedrooms to meet a single information need, we made a commitment to explore the use of administrative data from Valuation Office Agency (VOA) to produce estimates for number of rooms. This commitment was updated to include producing estimates for number of bedrooms.
We published a report on an alternative approach for producing estimates on rooms and bedrooms using VOA data and carried out a consultation to help us understand the impact this change could have on our data users’ work.
The 2021 Census topic consultation
Latest – 23 May 2016: The 2021 Census – Assessment of initial user requirements on content for England and Wales: Response to consultation.
Our consultation (June to August 2015) asked users of census statistics for their views on the topics that the 2021 Census might cover.
Beyond 2011 consultation
The topic consultation followed on from our extensive research after the 2011 Census into new ways of counting the population. This included a major public consultation in 2013 on the future provision of population statistics, when we proposed two approaches to census-taking. This process culminated in a successful recommendation to government. Full details can be found in our Beyond 2011 Programme archive, including the National Statistician’s recommendation.