MRS Responds to ONS Consultation
07 December 2023

The Census and GeodDems Group (CGG) is an MRS advisory board that recommends MRS policy in relation to geographic, demographic and census information.

As well as providing useful and important resources and events to the sector, part of this role is to represent the profession by responding to consultations on behalf of MRS and their members.

MRS and MRS CGG were grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the ONS consultation on the future of the population and migration statistics and acknowledged the progress made in developing alternatives to the census, particularly with respect to population estimates, but noted that there are variables and geographies for which alternatives to the census have not yet been identified. The census has been and continues to be a core source of population data for research practitioners and businesses within the UK and is used daily by many practitioners across the UK for research purposes to enable service provision, policy development and business planning.

Therefore, it was our duty to represent our Members and Company Partners and raise these in our thorough response. We are continuing to consult with ONS, the National Statistician and Professor Lievesley on this matter.

Read the full response here.