Time to stand up and be counted

Date published: 03 September 2010

The time has come for all Tamesiders to stand up and be counted. The ten-yearly census takes place on March 27 next year and Cllr John Taylor, deputy leader of Tameside Council, says it is vital that people fill in their questionnaires.

Around 25 million packs will be sent out in England and Wales by the Office for National Statistics. Households will be asked questions about matters such as work, health, ethnic background, religion, education and more, building up a picture of today’s society.

But what makes the census especially important to Tameside is that the amount of money which the Government gives to local authorities each year - the Revenue Support Grant - is based on the number of residents who return their forms. The higher the number of people who send back information, the greater the funding Tameside will receive from Westminster.

Cllr Taylor said: “It is absolutely essential that people send back their forms, and next year that will be easier than ever because it will be possible to complete the census on-line.

“The Government uses the information for lots of things, but especially when deciding how much grant to give. So every time a person from Tameside fails to register, this authority gets less money.

“And it tends to be the people who don’t return their questionnaires who are the first to come knocking on the council’s door asking about benefits and services. If you want us to be able to help you, make sure you fill in your form.

“Future funding for this authority depends on census returns so it’s vitally important that residents complete their questionnaires. In the current economic climate, every single penny we get from the Government is going to be crucial.

“Make sure you fill in your form and send it back as quickly as possible.”

Completing the 2011 census is a legal requirement. Failure to do so could carry a £1,000 fine.