Plans to replace 2031 census in England and Wales set to be abandoned after backlash

<p>Experts warn that scrapping survey in favour of administrative records risked fragmented population data</p><p>Plans to scrap the 2031 census in England and Wales are expected to be overturned after a backlash from senior statisticians over proposals to replace it with a patchwork of alternative data sources.</p><p>The UK government <a href="https://osr.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/letterfromrthonfrancismaudemptosirandrewdilnot18071_tcm97-43946.pdf">said in 2014</a> that its “ambition” was to abolish the mandatory national survey after 2021 and instead rely on piecing together “administrative data” collected by other bodies and surveys. Apart from a wartime gap in 1941, a census has been conducted <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/nov/03/out-for-the-count-has-britain-already-conducted-its-last-census">every 10 years</a> in Britain since 1801.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jun/17/plans-to-replace-2031-census-in-england-and-wales-set-to-be-abandoned-after-backlash">Continue reading...</a>