How does the Census Coverage Survey work?

The Census Coverage Survey (CCS) is a voluntary survey which allows us to estimate the number and characteristics of people who were not included on a census questionnaire and use this information to improve the census results so that they represent the whole population.

The CCS for the 2011 Census will take place between 9 May and 2 June 2011.

If you are chosen to take part you will receive an official Advance Notification Card. One of our specially selected independent team of interviewers will then call on you to conduct a short doorstep survey. He or she will call between 10 am and 8 pm, unless otherwise arranged, and will call back at a different time if you are not in.

The interviewer will not have seen any completed census questionnaires and will not be checking up on individual census questionnaires or households. The questions are similar to those asked for the census and ask about the type of accommodation, names, relationship, date of birth, ethnic group and so on.