The document summarizes the next steps for the 2021 UK Census. It discusses further refining questions and testing questionnaires. This includes end-to-end testing, Welsh language testing, and user testing of the online questionnaire. It also covers developing a flexible dissemination system for more timely, accessible outputs and involving users to meet their needs. Planning for wider user engagement on output content will begin in early 2018.

1. CLOSING AND NEXT STEPS

2. Summary – presentations
Topic Topic consultation
response (May 2016)
Our current assessment
(subject to further work)
Sexual identity Consider how/whether to meet
need
Early evidence suggests the question is broadly
acceptable
Gender identity Consider how/whether to meet
need
Complex user need
More research to address respondent need
Ethnicity Collect
- explore question design and need
for new response options
Collect – maintain 2011 question design and no
new response options
Number of
bedrooms
Collect Do not collect – Fulfil need with admin data
Consultation underway to understand impact
Number of rooms Do not collect – Explore admin data
potential
Do not collect – Fulfil need with admin data
Consultation underway to understand impact
Veterans Do not collect – Explore admin data
potential
Stronger user need than previously articulated
Further work to assess the outcome of linkage of
MOD admin data with Census data

3. Summary – poster sessions
Topic Our view topic
consultation response
(May 2016)
Our current assessment
(subject to further work)
Volunteering Consider how and whether to
meet need
Unlikely to collect in Census – lower relative
strength of user need
Year last worked Do not collect – Explore admin
data potential
Do not collect – Explore admin data potential
Supervisory Status Consider how/whether to meet
need
Consider how/whether to meet need – review of
NS-SEC derivation on-going
Qualifications Collect Collect – with some changes to the question
Main language Collect Collect – for main language question in Wales we
are testing separate response options for Wales
and England (single response option for both in
2011)

4. Census topic
consultation
Census
White
Paper
Census
Rehearsal
Census Test
Census Day
– March
Census
Order/Regs
Enhanced
Outputs
Census
Coverage
Survey
Options research
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Interim
Outline
Business
Case
Review
point
2031
approach
National Statistician’s
Recommendation Census small
scale test
Regular
outputs
update?
Admin data research – annual assessments and research outputs
Final
Outline
Business
Case
Programme Milestones

5. Finalising topics and questions for
inclusion within the White Paper
Recommendations on questions/topics will be based
on:
• Relative strength of user need and respondent burden
• Have we got space (including Welsh form)?
• target is 75% returns online
• Do we need legislation and is it feasible in the timetable?
• Can we get a question that works?
• Are we harmonised across Government Statistical Service
and, where possible, Scotland & Northern Ireland?

6. NEXT STEPS . . . 1 (Questionnaire)
• Conducting further research and testing to
refine the questions and questionnaire
• End to end testing (flow/question location)
• Testing Welsh language questionnaire
• User testing – online questionnaire
• Aiming to publish evidence as we reach more
final recommendations on question design
throughout 2017/18

7. NEXT STEPS . . . 2 (Outputs)
• Working towards more timely, flexible and
accessible outputs
• Developing a flexible dissemination system
which users can query online
• Involving users throughout to help drive the
work to meet user needs
• To get involved contact
2021census.engagement@ons.gov.uk
• Planning wider user engagement on output
content in early 2018

8. Questions?

9. Thank you for your participation
Please complete a short feedback
form
Please get in touch with any further feedback or questions:
Address: Census customer services, Office for National
Statistics, Segensworth Road,Titchfield, Hampshire,
PO15 5RR
Email: census.customerservices@ons.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1329 444972