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Census (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2000

Background

3.The primary legislation that provides for the taking of a census in Scotland is the Census Act 1920 (“the 1920 Act”). Under the provisions of section 1(1) of this Act an Order in Council may prescribe:

  • the date on which the census is to be taken;

  • the persons by whom and with respect to whom the census returns are to be made; and

  • the particulars to be stated in the returns.

4.The Schedule to the 1920 Act authorises the inclusion of the following topics in respect of which particulars may be required:

  • names, sex, age;

  • occupation, profession, trade or employment;

  • nationality, birthplace, race, language;

  • place of abode and character of dwelling; and

  • condition as to marriage, relation to head of family, issue born in marriage.

5.The inclusion in a census of questions on other topics which are:

  • Any other matters with respect to which it is desirable to obtain statistical information with a view to ascertaining the social or civil condition of the population,

is also permitted under a further paragraph of the Schedule to the 1920 Act.

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Explanatory Notes

Text created by the Scottish Government to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Acts of the Scottish Parliament except those which result from Budget Bills.

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