The Scottish Census Expenditure for 2022: £140 Million
Public sector news, UK
UNITED KINGDOM — Recent data unveiled by the Scottish Liberal Democrats reveals that the projected cost of the 2022 Scottish census is set to soar to nearly £140 million, marking a significant increase from the 2011 census cost, which stood at £63.5 million.
A disclosure through a freedom of information request by the Scottish Liberal Democrats has disclosed that the overall expenditure for conducting the Scottish census was recorded at £135 million. Additionally, an estimated £5 million is earmarked for expenditure in the coming two financial years.
Comparatively, the 2011 census incurred costs of £63.5 million. Notably, the 2022 census was the inaugural instance of Scotland conducting a separate census from the rest of the UK.
Originally scheduled for 2021, the 2022 census faced a year-long delay due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the process shifting online for safety reasons.
According to statistics furnished by the National Records of Scotland, the census achieved an 89% response rate. This came after an initial response rate of 79% prompted an extension of the census period by a month, incurring an estimated additional expense of £6 million.
Audit Scotland, which issued a report the previous year urging an investigation into Scotland’s disappointing response rate, emphasized that the initial target had been set at a minimum of 90% to guarantee the accuracy of population statistics derived from the census data.
In contrast, the 2021 census in England and Wales, conducted amid Covid-19 restrictions, attained a response rate of 97%. Similarly, the census in Northern Ireland also boasted a commendable 97% response rate.
An independent consortium of census and data specialists, commissioned by the Registrar General for Scotland, stated that the data collected was deemed sufficient to advance to the next phase of the census process. This would involve supplementary surveys and utilization of administrative data, such as the electoral register.
However, the lower-than-expected response rate led to greater reliance on administrative data by the National Records of Scotland than originally planned, as indicated by Audit Scotland.
Census data serves as a crucial resource for informing planning endeavors and shaping decisions regarding public expenditures over the ensuing decade.
An assessment of Scotland’s 2022 census, specifically focused on lessons learned, will be compiled for ministers and submitted to parliament by the conclusion of 2024.
Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, remarked, “Ministers introduced significant alterations, including transitioning the census to an online format and diverging from the data collection timeline in the rest of the UK. Regrettably, they displayed an unwillingness to glean insights from these experiences due to nationalistic sentiments.”
“What exacerbates the situation is that mishandling the census will inevitably cast a shadow over the provision of government services for the coming decade. The responsible cabinet secretary should outline the type of review slated for the census process and detail the measures the government will enact to prevent recurrence of such oversights.”
A spokesperson from the National Records of Scotland stated, “Experiences from censuses conducted elsewhere have demonstrated that every pound invested in the census yields approximately £5 in economic gains. While a significant portion of census expenses is allocated to pivotal delivery phases, the enduring benefits span the entire lifecycle of the extended program, well beyond the collection phases.”
“The NRS has consistently adhered to a judicious approach, allocating funds only as necessary to execute the census and reap its associated advantages. Whenever feasible, we have pursued efficiencies to ensure that the optimal value for public funds is upheld.”
