Affairs of State | Michael Pace Ross

For the first time ever, migrants are to be included in the National Census to be held later this year, and which will also go into the legal marital status of individuals, and the relationships between household members.

The National Census is set to start during the last quarter of the year, and aims to obtain comprehensive data on population and housing, with statistics on demographic, social and economic characteristics of persons, families and households, as well as data on housing at a national, regional and local level.

Michael Pace Ross, director-general at the National Statistics Office (NSO), explains that it will be carried on a door-to-door basis and warns of stiff penalties should people refuse to reply or supply false answers.

When is the National Census set to start and how long will it take?

A committee has been set up to coordinate the planning and execution of the Census. 

The Coordinating Committee will decide on the Census Day, which will be some time in the last quarter of 2011, and will meanwhile work on the census questionnaire as part of the preparation process. This process also involves the recruitment of enumerators, a pilot study of the questionnaire, training/briefing sessions and public educational campaigns, among others. 

Member States are required to provide Eurostat with final, validated and aggregated data by the first quarter of 2014.

The National Census will be held throughout European Union. Will the questions be harmonised?

As such, the questions asked in the Census are not harmonised across the EU. 

However, EC Regulation 763/2008 stipulates the topics to be covered in population and housing censuses, and therefore the questions on these topics will not vary so much from one Member State to another. 

Member States also have to satisfy the required methodology and adopt best practices. 

The collection of statistics would also have to conform to the principles of impartiality, in particular objectivity and scientific independence, as well as transparency, reliability, relevance, cost-effectiveness and statistical confidentiality.

What new or revised questions are expected to be put forward?

This will be one of the topics discussed by the Coordinating Committee.

What are the aims of the new National Census?

To have comprehensive data on population and housing, with statistics on demographic, social and economic characteristics of persons, families and households, as well as data on housing at a national, regional and local level.  

In addition, the European Commission needs to be in possession of reliable, detailed and comparable data on population and housing in order to enable it to filfil the tasks assigned to it, and to support various Community activities and policies, such as the promotion of social inclusion and the monitoring of social cohesion at regional level, or the protection of the environment and the promotion of energy efficiency.

Would migrants be eligible for questioning during the National Census?

For census purposes, if a person, including a migrant, has lived in Malta for a continuous period of at least 12 months before Census Day, he/she is considered a resident of Malta. 

Naturally, temporary absences abroad for vacation, business, medical or religious purposes during this 12-month period will still render a person a resident of Malta. 

Those persons who arrived in Malta during the 12 months before Census Day with the intention of staying here for at least one year are also included.

Would the National Census delve into literacy, education levels and languages spoken?

The Census will go into educational attainment levels of individuals.

Would the National Census ask on cohabiting couples, same-sex partners?

The Census will go into the legal marital status of individuals and also into the relationships between household members.

Would the National Census go into incomes, expenditure?

There are other appropriate surveys for gauging income and expenditure, such as the Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) and the Household Budgetary Survey (HBS). 

One must appreciate that in a Census, NSO would not want to burden respondents unnecessarily.  However, this issue will be discussed by the Coordinating Committee.

Would the National Census be a doorstep interview or will it be postal?

The Census will be conducted in the traditional way, that is door-to-door interviews conducted by enumerators.

What are the penalties for who refuses to answer or give incorrect replies?

The Census Act stipulates that if any person refuses to comply, or gives a false answer to any question, he or she shall, for each offence, be liable on conviction before a Court of Magistrates to a fine not exceeding €232.

Has the NSO prosecuted persons for non-cooperation during Census or surveys?

Any non-cooperation is referred to NSO’s legal office for further action as deemed necessary.

Would the National Census results be linked to eventual funding to Local Councils by Central Government?

The method used for allocating funds to local councils by the Central Government is not within the remit or mandate of NSO.

Are Local Councils being involved in the National Census?

At this stage local councils are not involved; however they are not being ruled out.  Discussions are still at a very early stage.