I went online to complete my Census return last night. It's not due until 21st March but as I don't think I'll be having overnight visitors that weekend I did it early. One question stumped me - not because it was difficult but because I don't remember being asked about it in previous decades. So can someone tell me if the question about being in the armed services or the reserves (now or in the past) has been asked before? Am I going to be called up at any minute? And if so, where's my WRNS cap?

You just got me worried there, as I haven't heard anything about a census, and the 21st March is quite soon. And now I see that the census in Scotland has been delayed until 2022, so I get a bit of time to ponder my responses.

I'm pretty sure that the armed services question hasn't been asked before - back in 2011 I was in my university's OTC, which is technically part of the TA, so I think that I might have remembered such a question.

You have a delay? Wow, is that the first time a census has been delayed? Apart from WWII and I'm not even sure about that.

Here in England, we got a letter and leaflet from the Office of National Statistics with a unique reference number and instructions of how to enter details online or get a printed form if online wasn't available to you. The letter was addressed to "The Householder" so if anyone's in shared accommodation it's that person's responsibility.

Well, I'm glad you don't remember an armed services question, I wondered if I'd been doing it wrong for decades!

I've had the same communications as you, flopsymopsy. I've downloaded a form from the web but I haven't looked at it yet. I'm pretty sure I don't remember a question in previous censuses about past service in the forces.

Not TOO sure of exact wording as wife answered the questions on line and merely asked me when she wasn't sure...........but.............it asked if I had served in Armed Forces but not interested in which,when or for how long.
It did ask some stupid questions IMO............Having acknowledged that by my date of birth I am 79 years old, it then asks if I am actively seeking work........at 79, for heavens sake!?
As I gave my name as Raymond Charles, it then asks if I am male or female...........go on, guess!
Oh well, somebody, somewhere has probably had a "nice little earner" devising these questions.

The television adverts are saying to fill it in straight away but as I recall from -previous years, it is WHO is under the roof on census night. None of us knows who will be under our roof that night, we could actually be dead or in hospital that night. If people are completing and submitting the form earlier then it will not be an accurate headcount. I will not be completing my form until census night.

I know in previous years they have had temporary staff who went to premises and would help those who needed it.my ex used to be a supervisor of a team of them after he retired. In fact, I have a feeling, here in Jersey at any rate, that the forms were hand delivered and collected from each household to ensure that all forms were done. A lot of the work was done in the evenings. Perhaps it is covid changing things this year.

Because they plan to make more of Veterans and their service in the future, questions have been added to this years Census. I heard Veterans ID cards are to be issued to all Veterans and new Driving Licenses will be marked with a large letter V to show the person is a Veteran, it is all part of the Military Covenant.

Still say a lot of the questions were unecessary, some were downright ridiculous, some intrusive and "none of their business" and a few relevant ! However, being a "law abiding citizen".......!!

The number of people living "under my roof" (stand fast felines) has not altered in 28 years.............I have no expectancy of it doing so between now and 21st March....though in fairness given my age and given Covid, it could always decrease I suppose......in which case I am not going to know a thing about the census anyhow.

As I gave up driving on medical grounds, 9 years ago, and as my 12 years serving Queen and Country ended December 1968, I doubt the fact I am an ex-forces veteran has any relevance to the grand scheme of things!
So I would have thought a question about WHEN a person served might have been of use?

Basically though I thought a census was a "head count".......what my sexual orientation may be, is firstly totally irrevelant IMO,, and secondly nobody's business except my own.

However....being a "law abiding citizen"......"laws" to not have to be agreed with, just complied with. Lol

Finally (stop sighing with relief).....in ethnic make up, whether I considered myself British, English, Welsh, etc.............no facility for true answer........East Anglian! Lol

Hmm, I did what I should have done all along, I asked Mr Google. It seems the question is a result of a British Legion campaign to find out where veterans live so that they can target appropriate social services to those areas. Of course, when they say "where they live" they mean statistically, not individuals.

They say to fill it in if you think you won't have visitors or be elsewhere - but if in the event that proves not to be the case you can change it. There is a helpline.

My main problem was getting my name right - on of th kys on this computr has nvr workd proprly and I sometimes don't notice so proof-reading official forms is a good idea!

C30, I don't think computers can read so I'm not surprised it expects you to be a woman looking for work. I'm still recovering from the results of my pre-Christmas Covid test which told me it was all negative and I could go back to work. Not funny!

Does it count if you consorted with the Boys Brigade, aged 14? What do I do if I am Cornish? This all sounds worryingly complex. Glad I am in Hong Kong.

I had a message from my cousin yesterday, last week she found her partner dead in his apartment (above hers), he hadn't been ill so the death was most unexpected. Now if he had already filled in his census form online then it would be inaccurate.

Actually he couldn't have filled it in yet anyway as to fill it in online (here) we need to quote the property access code which will be on the paper form which is yet to be delivered to us.

Received our code in the post today, but will fill it in next week sometime.