You asked
I just completed the census, which is a legal requirement.
I'm not happy with the level of detail you have demanded from me in the census which is far greater than in previous years. Please answer the following questions...
Who put together the census questions?
Were the questions approved by a Government minister, if so which one?
Where will the data be physically stored and how is it secured?
Who can access this data?
Can all my data be deleted? If so please do so.
We said
Thank you for your request. Please see the following answers to your questions.
1. Who put together the census questions?
The questions were recommended by the Office for National Statistics' (ONS) after an extensive programme of research, consultation and engagement over 3 years, prior to being published in the Government's 2018 White Paper 'Help Shape our Future: The 2021 Census of Population and Housing in England and Wales (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-2021-census-of-population-and-housing-in-england-and-wales). The ONS website outlines our question development and research (https://www.ons.gov.uk/census/censustransformationprogramme/questiondevelopment)
2. Were the questions approved by a Government minister, if so which one?
The topics and questions for Census 2021 were set in law in early 2020 through the Census Order and Census Regulations. The ONS census legislation and policy webpage (https://www.ons.gov.uk/census/censustransformationprogramme/legislationandpolicy) provides further details and links to the legislation. The final questions were included in the Census Regulations which were signed by the relevant UK Government Minister in relation to England and Welsh Government Minister in relation to Wales, and laid before the respective parliaments.
3. Where will the data be physically stored and how is it secured?
The safety of census respondents' information is our top priority at the ONS. We have strict security procedures that follow government standards. This includes physical and IT security measures to protect respondents' data. The ONS operates secure-by-design and assure-by-design development processes so that security is considered when services are being planned and developed. This enables the appropriate security to be designed and built into services for optimum operation and protection. Regular security reviews are performed of ONS systems, staff, processes and suppliers to ensure that the security defences implemented are operating as designed and remain effective to protect data and operations. You can find more information on the Census 2021 'Your data and security' (https://census.gov.uk/your-data-and-security) webpage, including details of the recent Independent Security Review.
4. Who can access this data?
The ONS webpage 'What we do with your information' (https://census.gov.uk/your-data-and-security/what-we-do-with-your-information) explains how we use census data. Personal information you put on your census is only used for statistical purposes. Our statistics do not contain any information that will allow you or anyone you live with to be identified. Only carefully selected and approved staff can see your personal census information. Approved staff use the information for statistical purposes only.
5. Can all my data be deleted? If so please do so.
As you have made a request here about your own personal data, this will be dealt with by the Data Protection team and a response will be provided to you separately.