The planning, development and delivery of Scotland’s Census 2021 takes place over a number of years and can be split in to the following tranches:
Throughout the planning, development and delivery of the 2021 Census are key programme milestones that identify important steps in the successful delivery of Scotland’s next Census in 2021.
The following table highlights the key milestones we will be working to achieve. All dates are based on current plans and projections. These are subject to change and may be updated as we progress in our planning and testing for Census 2021.
To find out all the ways you can get involved, be kept up to date with the latest news and information, or to have your say on any part of Scotland’s Census 2021, please visit our Get Involved pages.
|
Milestone |
Date |
Description |
Status |
Supporting Information |
|
Census (Amendment) (Scotland) Act in force |
September 2019 |
This confirms that we can ask voluntary questions on sexual orientation and transgender status and history, if the Scottish Parliament agrees to have these questions, in the 2021 Census. |
Bill successfully passed – voluntary questions on sexual orientation and transgender status and history can now be asked in the 2021 Census. |
|
|
Operational Readiness for Rehearsal |
September 2019 |
Following Operational Readiness Testing during September. |
Testing successfully completed –Operational Readiness for Rehearsal confirmed. |
|
|
Census Rehearsal (Release 1) goes live |
07 October – 07 November 2019 Census Rehearsal Day – 13 October 2019 |
Helpline goes live. A public-facing test of the online and paper channels at scale. Collection phase. |
Census Rehearsal (Release 1) went live on 07 October 2019 as planned. |
|
|
Rehearsal collection period complete |
07 November 2019 |
Online Collection Instrument to close. Helpline closes. |
Rehearsal collection period closed on 07 November 2019 |
|
|
Population and Migration Statistics Committee (Scotland) (PAMS) conference |
19 November 2019 |
A meeting of Local Authorities and population and migration topic experts who will provide stakeholder feedback on aspects of Statistical quality assurance plans, National Statistics action plans and census rehearsal updates. |
The PAMS November meeting took place and stakeholder feedback is being collated to be fed back to the programme. |
PAMS (opens an external website) |
|
National Statistics Accreditation - Action Plan Published for Comment |
December 2019 |
A high level action plan showing how we intend to address actions from the Office for Statistical Regulation’s Assessment of the 2021 Censuses - for stakeholder feedback. |
High level action plan was published in December 2019 for comment |
|
|
Statistical Quality Assurance Strategy - Published for comment |
December 2019 |
We will request stakeholder feedback on our plans for assuring the quality of 2021 Census data. |
Statistical Quality Assurance Strategy was published in December 2019 for comment |
|
|
Sex Question Testing – Report |
December 2019 |
Research report on the Sex Question is available to committee. |
||
|
Formal Census Order laid |
23 January 2020 |
Following the period of informal scrutiny of the draft order by the Committee, the formal Census Order is laid before Parliament for their approval. Subject to affirmative procedure. |
||
|
Census Outputs website: Discovery Phase complete |
Spring 2020 |
This discovery phase is the start of the Digital First Service Standards assessment which will involve User Research with stakeholders to identify what they need from a Census outputs website. |
Digital First Service Standards (external link) |
|
|
Census Rehearsal (Release 2) goes live |
April 2020 |
An internal release to capture and code paper returns from Rehearsal Release 1. Capture and coding phase. |
||
|
Draft Census Order in force and Regulations laid |
April 2020 (dependent on Census Order approval date) |
The Census Regulations detail the arrangements necessary for the conduct of the Census. Subject to negative procedure. |
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|
Census Rehearsal Evaluation Complete |
April 2020 |
All evaluation activity and final reporting on collection rehearsal complete. |
||
|
National Statistics Accreditation – NRS Response to Actions |
May 2020 |
We will publish a report demonstrating how we have responded to the actions given to us by the Office for Statistical Regulation (OSR) in their Assessment of the 2021 Censuses. |
||
|
Census Regulations in force |
June 2020 (dependent on Census Order approval date) |
The legislative process is complete. |
||
|
Census Outputs Website: Alpha phase complete |
Summer 2020 |
This is the second phase of the Digital First Service Standards assessment and will continue the work started in the discovery phase. |
Digital First Service Standards (external link) |
|
|
Census – End-to End Testing |
August - December 2020 |
The final, major testing period for all census collection systems. |
||
|
Census Operationally ready |
December 2020 |
Everything in place ready to start census collection. |
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|
Census Outputs Website: Beta phase complete |
Winter 2020 |
This phase of the Digital First Service Standards assessment includes the production of the public facing Beta website with the new structure, features and functionality. The old style website will still be available and the Beta website will continue to be updated once it is live. |
Digital First Service Standards (external link) |
|
|
Field Force Ready for Deployment |
by March 2021 |
All field force staff trained and ready to be deployed. |
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|
Census letters issued to all households and communal establishments (CEs) |
February 2021 - CEs March 2021 – Households |
Start dates for mailing out paper contact letters (to households) and packs (to CEs). |
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|
Census goes live |
1 March – 1 July 2021 Census day: 21 March 2021 |
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|
Announce Outputs publishing timescales |
March 2021 |
Timetable of the various outputs of data from the Census is published. |
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|
National Statistics Accreditation – Phase 2 Report Published |
Spring 2021 |
Our submission to Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) for assessment of how we are complying with the Code of Practice for Statistics through assuring the quality of our statistics and providing value to users. |