Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what will be the duties of those employed to carry out the census canvass in May 2021.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.
Professor Sir Ian Diamond | National Statistician
The Lord Greaves
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW
10 February 2021
Dear Lord Greaves
As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking what the duties will be of those employed to carry out the census canvass in May 2021 (HL12955).
Census 2021 will be a digital-first census and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) will be encouraging people to respond online if they can on their mobile phones, laptops, PCs or tablets, and providing a comprehensive range of support (including paper questionnaires) for those who are not able to complete the census online. The ONS expects 70 percent of households to respond without needing a reminder letter or visit from field staff. However, where it is necessary for the field staff to be involved and carry out their assigned duties, please be assured that safety is our number one concern.
For Census 2021, due to take place on the 21 March 2021, the ONS will have up to 40,000 census field staff working across England and Wales. The majority of the field force, who are ONS staff, are due to start the main follow-up work following Census day and no field staff will be knocking on doors until after that day.
An initial tranche of field staff is due to start earlier than this, undertaking tasks that do not require them to interact with members of the public nor knock on doors of households. They will be out and about from 8 March performing duties such as checking addresses of undelivered mail, understanding the local area and understanding the access to buildings etc.
Following Census day, field staff will start following up only those households who have not yet responded to the initial invitation and reminder letters. The primary role of these field officers is to give help and encouragement to those who have not yet filled in their census questionnaire online or on paper, and to direct them to the support services they need. Field staff will never enter people’s houses; they will be supplied with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), will always be socially distanced and will work in line with all government guidance.
All field staff will have been instructed in how to follow a precise door knocking routine to maximise safety for themselves and the public. Field officers will record the status of their visits by recording outcomes on the electronic Field Work Management Tool which has been developed for this purpose. A few examples of the many possible outcomes would be: they may record if the property is derelict, there was no answer (so they left a card), there was a hard refusal to complete. Officers can also collect paper questionnaires and post them for a household if the householder has completed one but is unable to post the return (for example, if the householder is housebound and has no family/friends to post the return for them).
There are also field officers that are responsible for encouraging census returns from communal establishments (CEs), who will start this work on 23rd February. The CEs will be sent out an information pack by post and then the CE officers will contact the managers of each of them. They will discuss with the managers of each establishment the best way to enumerate and they will request an invitation to visit in a COVID secure way, that will follow the protocols established by that establishment, to hand deliver the Census packs to a member of the CE staff, as laid out in regulations. They will always follow local and central government guidelines. There is not a need for CE officers to meet with the residents of the establishment, as the managers of the CEs will organise for the census forms to be filled in by each of the residents.
For more detailed information on ONS field staff roles, the ONS has published a Local Authority Partnership Guide[1] which includes a timeline of key activities during the Census 2021 operation (section 3), factsheets on field staff roles and responsibilities (section 7.2), recruitment allocation and dates for field staff (section 7.3).
The health and safety of census field staff and the public are of the utmost importance to the ONS. Prior to going out into the field, all field staff will be given comprehensive COVID-19 training. This will include detailed guidance on how to use the PPE provided, in addition to the other control measures the ONS has established to ensure everyone’s safety. Full details of the safety measures are available on the Census 2021 jobs website.[2] As set out on that web page, the items of PPE issued to field staff will include, but is not limited to, face coverings, hand sanitiser and sanitising wipes.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Sir Ian Diamond
[1] https://census.gov.uk/assets/Census2021_A4_English_LocalAuthorityGuideVersionTwo_LAGD1-A.pdf
[2] https://www.censusjobs.co.uk/covid-19-update/
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether a local authority employee can decline to carry out duties in relation to (1) the operation of polling stations on 6 May, (2) the counting of votes in relation to elections on that day, and (3) other activities involving direct contact with members of the public.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
Democracy should not be cancelled because of covid. The Government has confirmed that the set of local and Police and Crime Commissioner elections scheduled for May will go ahead, and made a firm commitment that the Government will support the sector to deliver them.
The Government has published a clear Delivery Plan for the May elections, setting out how the Government will support local elections teams to deliver effective polls that are covid-secure for voters and staff.
Proxy voting rules will be changed, enabling those who need to self-isolate to request an emergency proxy vote at short notice - right up to 5pm on polling day itself. This will mean that voters who have tested positive for COVID-19, or are self isolating, can still have their say in these elections without having to leave their residence.
It is an offence to provide false information on any voter registration form or any form requesting an absent vote. Information will have to be taken at face value as not all electors will be able to produce evidence. For example, some electors will be self-isolating due to contact with others. Others may show symptoms too late to be tested or otherwise have symptoms and are unable to produce a positive test.
Further guidance for all those involved in the elections will be available in due course and well in advance of the polls.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what instructions will be given (1) to returning officers for, and (2) to persons acting on their behalf at, the elections on 6 May on how to proceed if two or more applications to appoint a proxy are made in respect of the same elector and they purport to appoint different persons as the proxy for that elector; and whether any such instructions include guidance on what to do should multiple such applications be handed in at the same time at the last possible time for such applications.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
Democracy should not be cancelled because of covid. The Government has confirmed that the set of local and Police and Crime Commissioner elections scheduled for May will go ahead, and made a firm commitment that the Government will support the sector to deliver them.
The Government has published a clear Delivery Plan for the May elections, setting out how the Government will support local elections teams to deliver effective polls that are covid-secure for voters and staff.
Proxy voting rules will be changed, enabling those who need to self-isolate to request an emergency proxy vote at short notice - right up to 5pm on polling day itself. This will mean that voters who have tested positive for COVID-19, or are self isolating, can still have their say in these elections without having to leave their residence.
It is an offence to provide false information on any voter registration form or any form requesting an absent vote. Information will have to be taken at face value as not all electors will be able to produce evidence. For example, some electors will be self-isolating due to contact with others. Others may show symptoms too late to be tested or otherwise have symptoms and are unable to produce a positive test.
Further guidance for all those involved in the elections will be available in due course and well in advance of the polls.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what arrangements they plan to put in place to ensure that applications for a proxy vote for the elections on 6 May (1) are made by the person to whom the vote belongs, (2) are accompanied by clear and full information on why a proxy vote is being requested, (3) are not systematically collected by political parties or candidates at those elections or persons acting on their behalf, (4) include contact information for the applicant, and (5) ensure that late applications can be efficiently and properly processed.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
Democracy should not be cancelled because of covid. The Government has confirmed that the set of local and Police and Crime Commissioner elections scheduled for May will go ahead, and made a firm commitment that the Government will support the sector to deliver them.
The Government has published a clear Delivery Plan for the May elections, setting out how the Government will support local elections teams to deliver effective polls that are covid-secure for voters and staff.
Proxy voting rules will be changed, enabling those who need to self-isolate to request an emergency proxy vote at short notice - right up to 5pm on polling day itself. This will mean that voters who have tested positive for COVID-19, or are self isolating, can still have their say in these elections without having to leave their residence.
It is an offence to provide false information on any voter registration form or any form requesting an absent vote. Information will have to be taken at face value as not all electors will be able to produce evidence. For example, some electors will be self-isolating due to contact with others. Others may show symptoms too late to be tested or otherwise have symptoms and are unable to produce a positive test.
Further guidance for all those involved in the elections will be available in due course and well in advance of the polls.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to make provision for (1) the suspension, or (2) the cancellation, of polls on 6 May in the event of a local emergency, including a local surge in COVID-19 cases resulting from an outbreak of a new variant which spreads rapidly, in a particular (a) polling district, (b) electoral division, (c) local authority, and (d) mayoral or police commissioner election; and who will have the authority to make such decisions under any such plans.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
Democracy should not be cancelled because of covid. The Government has confirmed that the set of local and Police and Crime Commissioner elections scheduled for May will go ahead, and made a firm commitment that the Government will support the sector to deliver them.
The Government has published a clear Delivery Plan for the May elections, setting out how the Government will support local elections teams to deliver effective polls that are covid-secure for voters and staff.
Proxy voting rules will be changed, enabling those who need to self-isolate to request an emergency proxy vote at short notice - right up to 5pm on polling day itself. This will mean that voters who have tested positive for COVID-19, or are self isolating, can still have their say in these elections without having to leave their residence.
It is an offence to provide false information on any voter registration form or any form requesting an absent vote. Information will have to be taken at face value as not all electors will be able to produce evidence. For example, some electors will be self-isolating due to contact with others. Others may show symptoms too late to be tested or otherwise have symptoms and are unable to produce a positive test.
Further guidance for all those involved in the elections will be available in due course and well in advance of the polls.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice they have provided (1) to local authorities, and (2) to returning officers, about the provision of polling stations at the elections on 6 May in polling districts where the usual polling stations cannot be used and where there are no available alternatives.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
Democracy should not be cancelled because of covid. The Government has confirmed that the set of local and Police and Crime Commissioner elections scheduled for May will go ahead, and made a firm commitment that the Government will support the sector to deliver them.
The Government has published a clear Delivery Plan for the May elections, setting out how the Government will support local elections teams to deliver effective polls that are covid-secure for voters and staff.
Further guidance for all those involved in the elections will be available in due course and well in advance of the polls.
To support the smooth running of the Police and Crime Commissioner and local elections, there will be an estimated £92 million of government funding that will be provided to Returning Officers and local authorities for the elections. Of this, £31 million is an uplift to address costs associated with making the polls covid-secure.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the costs related to holding the elections on 6 May, including the additional costs of measures to address the COVID-19 pandemic, will be refunded to local authorities.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
Democracy should not be cancelled because of covid. The Government has confirmed that the set of local and Police and Crime Commissioner elections scheduled for May will go ahead, and made a firm commitment that the Government will support the sector to deliver them.
The Government has published a clear Delivery Plan for the May elections, setting out how the Government will support local elections teams to deliver effective polls that are covid-secure for voters and staff.
Further guidance for all those involved in the elections will be available in due course and well in advance of the polls.
To support the smooth running of the Police and Crime Commissioner and local elections, there will be an estimated £92 million of government funding that will be provided to Returning Officers and local authorities for the elections. Of this, £31 million is an uplift to address costs associated with making the polls covid-secure.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the ability of local authorities (1) to support the administration of elections scheduled to take place during the COVID-19 pandemic, and (2) to enable the provision of staff to administer such elections on 6 May.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
Primary legislation states that the elections will go ahead in May 2021.
We continue to work closely with the electoral and public health bodies to resolve challenges and ensure everyone will be able to cast their vote safely and securely - and in a way of their choosing.
The Government is also bringing forward additional measures to extend the ability to appoint a proxy, so that those that are affected by Covid-19 in the days before the poll are still able to make their voice heard.
Guidance will be published in good time ahead of the polls and this matter will be kept under review. The House will be kept updated.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consultation they have undertaken in relation to holding local and other elections in England on 6 May with bodies representing (1) schools, (2) school staff, and (3) parents; and what representations they have received from such bodies.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
Primary legislation states that the elections will go ahead in May 2021.
We continue to work closely with the electoral and public health bodies to resolve challenges and ensure everyone will be able to cast their vote safely and securely - and in a way of their choosing. We are also working to ensure that disruption to children’s education is kept to an absolute minimum. Schools and local authorities should consider relevant public health advice.
We are providing for voters to be able to appoint a proxy at short notice if they need to isolate shortly before or on the day of the polls. Guidance will be published in good time ahead of the polls and this matter will be kept under review.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implications for schools that would be used as polling stations in elections on 6 May for (1) the number of days they would need to close for extra cleaning and other management arrangements (a) before, and (b) following, polling day, and (2) the costs of such cleaning and management arrangements.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
Primary legislation states that the elections will go ahead in May 2021.
We continue to work closely with the electoral and public health bodies to resolve challenges and ensure everyone will be able to cast their vote safely and securely - and in a way of their choosing. We are also working to ensure that disruption to children’s education is kept to an absolute minimum. Schools and local authorities should consider relevant public health advice.
We are providing for voters to be able to appoint a proxy at short notice if they need to isolate shortly before or on the day of the polls. Guidance will be published in good time ahead of the polls and this matter will be kept under review.