Next Census Is More Than A Black Or White Question

The next national census will offer detail options for their ethnic background, while the English will be asked if they define themselves as black or white.

The divergence follows a controversy over the choices facing people in the 2001 census, in which Africans in Scotland objected to being defined by colour of skin, while Asians are defined by geography.

With small numbers of people of African or Afro-Caribbean descent living in Scotland, they argued six years ago that they identify themselves differently to the “black” identity used by people across various ethnic origin in England to stress their common interest.

Duncan Macniven, Scotland’s registrar-general, said the wording had been the hardest part of devising a new draft census, which was yesterday put out to consultation. Recommendations on the issue from an MSP committee had left him little choice.

With some questions to be added, others must be dropped, and Mr Macniven suggests it is no longer necessary to find out the religion in which Scots were brought up. That would bring Scotland into line with England, where people are only asked their current religion or faith.

One of the new options is to ask about Scotland’s language skills. Since 1881, there has been a question about Gaelic, and the new proposal is to ask people what foreign languages they speak. More detail may also be sought about the nature of chronic illnesses from which people suffer, which would be of use to health services.

The proposal for new questions would also add one on income, though it was admitted there could be problems in getting an answer from unrelated adults in the same house who might not want housemates to know their earnings. The consultation paper said there was widespread demand from organisations who use census data for an income question to be included, and it is suggested nine income bands should be offered.

A census test exercise was carried out last April, covering more than 50,000 homes in Glasgow, West Dunbartonshire, the Highlands, Stirling, Perth and Kinross, and Argyll and Bute. However, the next census, four years away, could be the first to be offered online, particularly if that helps to include around 100,000 young men throughout the UK who were reckoned to be missing from the last national count. At 96% returns, Scotland had a better response rate than England.

Mr Macniven yesterday stressed there is a promise to treat each household’s information as confidential.