10.25
‘Bedroom snooper’ row over census
Ministers will invade peoples’ privacy by asking “intrusive” questions in the census, the Conservatives are claiming.
When the 2011 survey is conducted everyone in the UK will have to answer the questions or face fines.
Details will be sought about the number of bedrooms in peoples’ homes and information about “overnight visitors”.
The Tories said this would amount to “bedroom snooping” but ministers said all questions would be justified in the public interest.
via BBC NEWS | UK | UK Politics | ‘Bedroom snooper’ row over census.
The bit that bugs me about this is the complaint about the “overnight visitors” information requirement.
So what?
I used to teach genealogy and any genealogist will tell you that this question used to always be in the census. Why? Because the census is all about the state of the population on one particular day. If someone is out visiting their mates on that day then they should not be included in the census of their main residence. If they are not included there then where will they be included?