The census is just a licence to snoop on British people (Express)

Well said.

It's an utter disgrace. I will certainly reply "None of your bloody business" to the question about religion, and I suspect to quite a few others.

I have emailed Nick Hurd, and told him what a pathetic hypocrite he is.

Absurd piece. The data are needed for reasons such as the correct allocation of local government grants. The data for individuals is totally confidential.

When you buy a pair of trousers do you guess at your waist and inside leg measurements?

The question about religion is optional (I was a Jedi Knight last time and I suspect I still am). But as Jonathan says, the data are needed for all sorts of good reasons, such as provision for the elderly (an issue within the Jewish community, dontcha think?). Even the Union of Orthodox Rabbis (the strictly Orthodox group) has recognised the need for such data and has lifted its standard opposition to census (as a neutral fourth declension, the plural takes -us or perhaps it should be censi as a 2nd declansion. Go figure) of any kind.

What nonsense, Jonathan and Millis. The number of bedrooms in my house, let alone other intrusive questions, is simply none of the government's business. This is the sort of thing demanded in NK and other Communist countries.

And its 'data are' and 'censuses'.

Yoni1, I believe censi (census, censuses) in Israel ask similar questions.

Whataboutery again, Millis?
If I lived in Israel at this point in time, I'd object to that in exactly the same way. I don't, so I don't.

So don't, yoni1. You are free to do as you wish. But you must also be prepared to face the consequences of your action - as you would in any democracy that holds censi/census/censuses (and that's practically all of them).

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmlonreg/349/...

Here is a paper about the serious consequences of non-reponse in London in the 2001 census.

There are serious issues here:

The London Borough of Newham considers that, as a result of the undercount it estimates in the 2001 Census, the Borough has subsequently not received, after damping, £5.8 million of Formula Grant which it believes it ought to have received by virtue of the size of its population. Sir Robin Wales told us that "because all [Newham's] resources are based on that figure and then the mid-year estimates, we have had a decade of underfunding based on that poor Census data.

Maybe Mr Pollard would like to respond?

The other thing that bothers me about the census is that people that want to stay hidden from the state, or can't read and write (which is quite a lot) won't ever be included, so a true picture of Britain is impossible.

Matt, no system is 100 per cent perfect. However, if people have the capability of answering the census, they should do so.

Yet again ... the data are confidential so filling in the form does not 'reveal' you to any arm of government

The illiterate can ask someone to fill it in for them.

It is not true that "quite a lot" are illiterate. The UK's literacy rate is 99%.

"the data are confidential"

ROFLMAO.
Let's remind ourselves how much confidential information that we'd been assured would NEVER, EVER be disclosed, has leaked from (e.g.) NHS computers in recent years through simple incompetence. And from military (!) laptops left behind in taxis. Or lost CD-ROMs.
I am sure, Jonathan, that you can easily google for these many stories over the past few years, without any help from me.
But if you can't, I am happy to help you.

www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=confidential+NHS+lost&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=

"and that's practically all of them"

More whataboutery.
They don't all snoop to this extent.

It is a fact that the British government and local authorities snoop into its population's private lives more than any other Western democracy.

Google for it.

"So don't, yoni1"

Err ... that was in response to your comments about Israel. I don't live there, so I don't fill in the Israeli census forms. Simples.

So don't fill in the UK one, Yoni1. Just be prepared to pay the price for the consequences of your convictions.

Anyone marking me down for my 17:55 comment must be a REALLY sad little loser. Yes, that means you, pathetic and useless waste of protoplasm.

"So don't fill in the UK one"

I didn't say I 'wouldn't fill it in'. I'll skip questions more appropriate to fascist regimes.
And take your patronising sneers to where they might be appreciated.

Then, Yoni1, you really do not have the courage of your convictions.

Err ... that was in response to your comments about Israel. I don't live there, so I don't fill in the Israeli census forms. Simples.

You certainly don't and that Jonathan is why you simply have no idea what is going on there.

Which part of "I'll skip questions" is too hard for your single brain cell to grasp, Millis?

Simoneq: (a) I am not Jonathan, idiot; (b) I don't live there at the moment, but I have lived there on and off for several decades. I certainly know more about it than you'll ever know about anything in your sorry, sad, loser's life.