These Regulations set out the detailed arrangements necessary for the conduct in Wales of the census directed to be taken on 21 March 2021 by the Census (England and Wales) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/532) (“the Census Order”). They also revoke the Census (Wales) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1361 (W. 116)).

Regulation 3 provides definitions for the interpretation of these Regulations along with abbreviations for the interpretation of the questionnaires used in the census. Regulation 3 also provides that a prescribed person is not in breach of these Regulations by returning a partially completed version of both the English language and Welsh language versions of a questionnaire, providing that the information provided in the questionnaires amounts to a complete return.

Regulation 4 provides for the division of Wales into census areas, census co-ordinating areas, communal establishment co-ordination areas and enumeration districts. It also provides for the appointment of persons to carry out the duties assigned to them under these Regulations.

Regulation 5 introduces the requirements for the questionnaires to be used during the census. The online questionnaires must have the questions and response options and the functions and features set out in Parts 1, 2, 3 and 8 of Schedule 2. The paper questionnaires must be in the form shown in Parts 4, 5, 6 and 7 of Schedule 2.

Regulation 6 provides that a person required by the Census Order to make a return at the census will discharge their responsibility when the relevant paper or online questionnaire specified in Schedule 1 has been received by the Statistics Board (“the Authority”). Regulation 6 also provides that a householder or joint householder, or a person for the time being in charge of a communal establishment, may submit a paper form in relation to the household or the communal establishment and online forms in relation to individual persons in that household or communal establishment, or the other way round.

Regulation 7 requires the Authority to provide sufficient electronic systems (a questionnaire tracking system and a fieldwork management tool) and sufficient electronic devices (census electronic devices) to support the conduct of the census.

Regulation 8 sets out the requirements for the content of the different types of census packs.

Regulations 9 to 15 provide detailed arrangements for the provision, delivery, completion and return of the bilingual questionnaires. Each questionnaire will be available in Welsh and English language versions. Each category of online questionnaires will be accessed via a unique access code by way of example, one unique access code affords access to the Welsh and English language versions of the Household Questionnaires.

Regulation 16 provides for follow up action to be taken in the event that a questionnaire sent or delivered in accordance with these Regulations is not returned or is returned incomplete.

Regulation 17 makes provision for information to be given by a prescribed person to a person making a return on their behalf, or to a person appointed to carry out duties under these Regulations. It also makes provision to prevent the unauthorised use, publication and communication of information obtained for the purpose of the census.

Regulations 18 and 19 contain provisions relating to the safe custody of questionnaires and census electronic devices as well as to the storage and safeguarding of personal information relating to the census.

Regulation 20 provides for the giving of either a statutory declaration or an undertaking concerning the confidentiality of information obtained as a result of the census by persons who will have access to that information.

The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to these Regulations. As a result, a regulatory impact assessment has been prepared as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with these Regulations. A copy can be obtained from the Local Government Strategic Finance Division, Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ.