Big Brother Watch: Census ‘intrusive’
Daniel Hamilton, campaign director of Big Brother Watch, commented on the census launch:
“At 32 pages, the census includes intrusive questions on your proficiency in English, your health, when you last worked, the identities of your overnight guests and the type of central heating you have. The government has no need – and no right – to know this information about you.
“This census is a monumental waste of time and money. A large number of the questions duplicate data already held by the authorities on databases such as the electoral register, school records, tax returns and GP information.
“It also makes the entirely hollow but nevertheless bullying threat of fines of £1,000 for non-compliance.
“Back in 2001, three million people refused to comply. Given that there were fewer than 100 prosecutions for not filling the census in, it’s clear that non-compliance comes pretty much entirely without repercussions.
“Last time, 390,000 people declared their religion as Jedi. There’s no reason to think people will take the census any more seriously this year.”
