MP ASKS RESIDENTS OF SOUTHEND TO COMPLETE CENSUS FORMS
James Duddridge, Member of Parliament for Rochford and Southend East, encourages residents to complete the Census forms which are currently being delivered.
The 2011 Census begins this week and forms are arriving throughout Southend. The Census is conducted by the Office for National Statistics and used to determine funding for primary care trusts, policing, education, and other local services. For this reason, it is essential that all residents complete and return the Census forms either by hand or online at www.census.gov.uk
Failure to fill out and return the 2001 Census forms cost Southend £8.5 million in allocated funding. The population was undercounted by an estimated 20,000 residents and resulted in severe underfunding.
James said
“All residents need to complete the Census paperwork. We need to ensure that Southend and Rochford receive the full and accurate funding to which they are entitled.
"Without the cooperation of residents we could end up in a position similar to that following the 2001 Census where we were undercounted and underfunded.”
