Outstanding Census Forms

Summary

A request for details on the 2021 Isle of Man Census, including outstanding forms, unaccounted persons, prosecutions, and costs, was partially fulfilled by the Cabinet Office. While specific data on outstanding forms, 2016 prosecutions, and total costs were provided, information on unaccounted persons and 2021 prosecutions was withheld as the census was still ongoing and the data not held.

Key Facts

• 88 paper census forms were outstanding as of 22 October 2021.
• No individuals had been fined or prosecuted for the 2021 census as collection was still ongoing.
• Six people were prosecuted for non-filing during the 2016 census.
• The total cost of the 2021 census as of 22 October 2021 was £257,741.30.
• An additional £25,456.40 was spent by Government Technology Services on IT system development.

Data Disclosed

• 88
• 22 October 2021
• 17 November 2021
• 2016
• Six
• £257,741.30
• £25,456.40
• 2050265

Exemptions Cited

• Information not held by the authority
• Census collection not yet complete

Original Request

Please can you confirm the following: 1. How many 2021 IOM census forms were outstanding (i.e. had been sent out but not returned) as at 22nd October 2021? 2. How many individual persons are estimated to be currently residing in the IOM but are unaccounted for in the 2021 census? 3. How many persons have been fined or prosecuted for late or non- filing of such census form? 4. How many persons were fined or prosecuted for late or non-filing of the previous (2016) census forms ? 5. What has been the financial cost to date of the 2021 IOM census (including all media advertising, cost of producing and printing of hard copy forms, envelopes and postage, follow up letters and all staff labour costs allocated to the census)? Thank you

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Government Office Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3PN Telephone: (+44) 01624 686244 Website: www.gov.im/co

Our ref: 2050265 17 November 2021

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 22 October 2021 and which states:

"Please can you confirm the following: 1. How many 2021 IOM census forms were outstanding (i.e. had been sent out but not returned) as at 22nd October 2021? 2. How many individual persons are estimated to be currently residing in the IOM but are unaccounted for in the 2021 census? 3. How many persons have been fined or prosecuted for late or non- filing of such census form? 4. How many persons were fined or prosecuted for late or non-filing of the previous (2016) census forms ? 5. What has been the financial cost to date of the 2021 IOM census (including all media advertising, cost of producing and printing of hard copy forms, envelopes and postage, follow up letters and all staff labour costs allocated to the census)? Thank you" Our response to your request is as follows: 1. How many 2021 IOM census forms were outstanding (i.e. had been sent out but not returned) as at 22nd October 2021? Of those properties where a paper form is recorded as having been requested and sent out, 88 are still outstanding. 2. How many individual persons are estimated to be currently residing in the IOM but are unaccounted for in the 2021 census? While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Cabinet Office does not hold the information that you have requested. The collection of census returns is not yet complete. Furthermore, estimates of the population are not used to

assess the completion of the census, which is in fact evaluated using the number of residential properties from which responses have been received. 3. How many persons have been fined or prosecuted for late or non- filing of such census form? While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Cabinet Office does not hold the information that you have requested. The census collection is still ongoing as at 22nd October 2021, with final notices being sent out over subsequent weeks. As such, no one has as yet been fined or prosecuted for failure to provide a census response. 4. How many persons were fined or prosecuted for late or non-filing of the previous (2016) census forms ? Six people were prosecuted in 2016 for failure to provide a census return. 5. What has been the financial cost to date of the 2021 IOM census (including all media advertising, cost of producing and printing of hard copy forms, envelopes and postage, follow up letters and all staff labour costs allocated to the census)? As at 22nd October 2021, £257,741.30 has been spent on the 2021 Isle of Man Census.
This figure includes all media advertising, cost of producing and printing of hard copy forms, envelopes and postage, follow up letters and all staff labour costs allocated to the census. In addition to this, £25,456.40 was spent by Government Technology Services (GTS) to make sure that the census IT system was developed and online in time for the May deadline. Please quote the reference number 2050265 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded. If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or

1. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
   In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi. I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely