Census descends into farce

The 2011 Census descended further into farce today as it was revealed that more than 555,000 people have rung the census helpline after having difficulties understanding the form. A large proportion of the complaints related to the website, which times-out after 10 minutes of inactivity meaning all unsaved answers are lost. An ONS spokesman said:

“Apparently what has been happening is people are filling in the form online and they are going away to make a cup  of tea or going to the loo but when  they do, they are not pressing the 'save and come back later' button.”

Some web users complained that they were unable to navigate back to the previous page to change their answers. People in England were further confused by question 17, which reads “This question is intentionally left blank.” The question relates to the Welsh language, so it is only printed on forms in Wales.

The census bosses were forced to apologise to residents in Warfield Park, Bracknell after 500 homes were missed off the address list. Volunteers hand delivered the census forms on Sunday, when they were due to be filled in. Cherry Bluett, the area manager said:

“I think we just made a mistake and the first thing I want to do is apologise to the people of Warfield Park that their questionnaires didn't arrive in the post when the rest of Berkshire had their questionnaires delivered”

One resident, Ivy Prowse expressed her thoughts:

"It becomes a joke doesn't it, that means that about 1,000 people have been left out of a census which I think is important.”

After the exorbitant cost and numerous problems, we can only hope that this is the last ever census. By 2021 the idea of sending 26 million forms out to every single address in the country by post will seem even more ridiculous than it does now.

Comments

[Mr Numba Cruncha]

HA HA HA HA.

Ah well just goes to show how useless and untrustworthy the state and it's minions are.

Oh and Ivy Prowse......wake up you slave!!!

Mine has already been incinerated, now I get to look forward to a visit from the "Census Gestapo". Hope they like being on camera. Servile scum.

[Ta Ianouvu]

Census envelopes also look particularly large, wonder how many post boxes will be blocked with the dam things.

[Purlieu]

It would have been a lot cheaper in many ways simply to leave question 17 the same across the whole country.

[Earl]

Blame the smoking ban. They walked away and went outside to smoke and by the time they came back the screen locked up on them.

[BillyBloggs]

If they were to follow their own "Diversity and Equality" mantras to the letter question 17 should have been around 5 pages long with a tick box for all 100 or so languages, that need a translation on official documents. So a polyglot could choose any of the languages they speak,

Only joking.... Am I?

[Ld Elon]

fk census.

[Richard Craven]

"Blame the smoking ban."

I knew someone would say that.

[Iggy]

"now I get to look forward to a visit from the "Census Gestapo". Hope they like being on camera. Servile scum."

Bear in mind that many Census collectors are folks like me, thrown out of work by the Lib Den CON's cuts with families to feed.I don't want to do it, and I certainly won't be hassling anyone else to do so. I have to ask for the form, and I hope lots of people do refuse, as I won't be filling mine in either.

Anyway, please bear that in mind before setting the dogs on whoever calls to collect your form.

[Richard Craven]

@numba cruncher

"servile scum"

Comments like that serve only to antagonise neutrals, to entrench opposition, and to tarnish by association those of us who share your opposition towards the Census, but who prefer to maintain respect and decorum in our dealings with others.

@iggy

Sorry about him. We're not all like that.

[Pamela]

As soon as it arrived it got 'posted' to the recycling bin.

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