The House of Commons Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) yesterday held an evidence session on the 2011 Census, where Karen Dunnell, National Statistician, was asked a number of questions about the proposed question on religion.
Kelvin Hopkins MP referred to representations made by the British Humanist Association (BHA) regarding our concerns about the inaccuracy of data created by the Census question on religion. He asked Ms Dunnell whether she thought that another question that produced a more accurate measure of religion or belief in the UK should be used instead for the next Census.
Ms Dunnell replied that, technically, they should be asking a two part question, like ‘do you have a religion and, if you do, what is it?’ for more useful and reliable information but, mainly for continuity reasons, it would be better to keep the original question. However, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) had not made a final decision on the matter, and would be looking to meet again with the BHA in July to discuss the matter further.
The BHA has been campaigning to raise awareness of the wholly inaccurate measurement of the religiosity of the population by the Census question on religion and its very damaging effects, and for a change in the question.
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For further comment or information, contact Naomi Phillips on 020 7079 3585.
Read more about our campaign at https://humanists.uk/campaigns/census-2011
The British Humanist Association represents and supports the non-religious. It is the largest organisation in the UK campaigning for an end to religious privilege and to discrimination based on religion or belief, and for a secular state.