Time For a Census
October 31st, 2007The economic immigration debate rages, with the Government being forced to admit that its 800,000 figure for economic immigrants into the UK since 1997 looks more like 1.1 million. Councils such as Slough are facing real problems in providing key public services such as education because they are constantly being surprised with greater numbers of people with differing languages and differing needs. How can local government or the NHS plan for future provision if they do not know the correct population number?
I have been looking at the 1920 Census Act, and note that a census in Great Britain can be held in any year provided that at least five years have passed after the beginning of the year in which the previous census was taken. With the vast changes to our population in the last few years, the 2001 census has been rendered largely meaningless. Instead of wasting time with costly and unreliable ID cards and registers, why not ask the appropriate authorities (eg Registrar General in England and Wales) to organise a census, so that a far more up to date picture can be gained.
The next Census is not due until 2011. Can we really wait that long, bearing in mind the grave problems the current uncertainty is bringing to our public services?
