The document provides information about the Census Transformation Research Conference, including its objectives to inform stakeholders about the latest research from the Census Transformation Programme, seek feedback on the statistical design of the 2021 Census and future use of administrative data, and give confidence in the ability to deliver a successful programme. It outlines the National Statistician's recommendation for a predominantly online 2021 Census supplemented by administrative data, the government's agreement with this approach, and the objectives and timeline of the Census Transformation Programme to transform how population statistics are produced beyond 2021.

1. Welcome to the Census
Transformation Research Conference
2016
Transforming the Census – to 2021 and
beyond
28-29th June, University of Winchester
Day 1

2. Transforming the census – to
2021 and beyond
Ben Humberstone – 28th June
Census Transformation Programme
Day 1

3. Conference Objectives
1. Inform stakeholders about the latest
research from the programme.
2. Seek feedback on the statistical design of
the 2021 Census and Admin Data Census –
your input counts!
3. Give confidence in the ability of the CTP to
deliver a successful programme.

4. National Statistician’s recommendation
(March 2014)
• An online census of all households and communal
establishments in 2021 - with support for those who are
unable to complete the census online.
AND
• Increased use of administrative data and surveys in
order to enhance the statistics from the 2021 census and
improve annual statistics between censuses.
➢Make the best use of all available data to provide the population
statistics required.
AND
➢Offer a springboard to the greater use of administrative data and
annual surveys in the future.
4

5. Way forward agreed with Government
• “The Government welcomes the recommendation for a
predominantly online census in 2021 supplemented by further
use of administrative and survey data.
• Government recognises the value of the census and its history
as a bedrock of statistical infrastructure. The census provides
information on the population that is of fundamental importance
to society....
• Our ambition is that censuses after 2021 will be conducted
using other sources of data and providing more timely statistical
information .... dependent on the dual running sufficiently
validating the perceived feasibility of that approach.”
Minister for the Cabinet Office, July 2014
5

6. Census Transformation Programme –
Objectives
• Run a high quality 2021 online census data collection
operation
• Produce integrated outputs from census, administrative and
survey data
• Make a recommendation about the future nature of the
census and methods for production of population statistics
beyond 2021
• Protect, and be seen to protect, confidential personal data
• Maximise the potential for wider benefits to ONS
• Provide value for money
• Maximise benefits from Census for all stakeholders (local
and central government, public, private and voluntary
sectors)
6

7. Census Transformation Programme –
Objectives
• Run a high quality 2021 online census data collection
operation
• Produce integrated outputs from census, administrative and
survey data
• Make a recommendation about the future nature of the
census and methods for production of population statistics
beyond 2021
• Protect, and be seen to protect, confidential personal data
• Maximise the potential for wider benefits to ONS
• Provide value for money
• Maximise benefits from Census for all stakeholders (local
and central government, public, private and voluntary
sectors)
7

8. 2021 Census and beyond timeline
Census
RehearsalCensus Test
Census Day –
March
First ADC
Assessment
NS Recn
First CTP
Methodological
Review
CTP Methodological
Review
Final CTP
Methodological
Review
ADC Final
Assessment
Consultation
Final ADC Research
Outputs and
comparison with
Census Outputs
CTP NS Recn
First ADC Research
Outputs
2014 2015 2018 20232016 2022202120202017 2019
First
Census
Outputs
Census Test Census
Rehearsal
Census Operation , Outputs and
Recommendation
ADC - Administrative Data Census
CTP – Census Transformation Programme
Admin data research- annual assessment and research outputs
Census
White Paper
Census
Orders/Regs
Census Coverage
Survey