Thousands of elderly people could end up with £1000 fines and a criminal record because of Scotland’s census chaos, according to a leading charity.
Latest figures show more than 12 per cent of households – about 350,000 people – have still to complete the forms.
Age Scotland says many are older citizens struggling to complete the census and desperately needing help.
Failure to return a census form is a criminal offence and carries a fine of £1000. A new completion deadline of Sunday, June 12, was set last week. The original March 20 deadline was extended three times after poor uptake.
Age Scotland’s chief executive Brian Sloan said: “The Scottish Government should use the extension to shine a light on who is missing before threats of huge fines for not completing it.
“It would be hugely distressing to find older people handed £1000 fines without every effort to support them.”
National Records of Scotland (NRS) sent out letters to every household in the country in March, with census participation required by law.
No paper questionnaires have been automatically provided. Residents have instead been posted an internet code for them to fill out the census online.
Many older people do not own a computer so find it hard to take part. The only way to get a paper version is to call a hotline or apply online. Sloan said many older people “also don’t have anyone else in their lives to turn to for support with the application process”.
In March Anne Booth, 76, told the Sunday Mail she tried to get a paper version over the phone and had to wait 35 minutes for her call to be taken. The ex-classroom assistant, from Germiston, Glasgow, said: “Everyone should have been sent a paper questionnaire, with the option of going online.”
The census helps government make decisions about how public money will be spent on major services and experts have warned insufficient data could jeopardise services for the next decade.
Just 87.5 per cent of forms had been returned last week. The process has cost taxpayers £150million, including £10million for the extensions. NRS can refer people who don’t return their census to the Crown Office, who will decide whether to prosecute.
A separate Census Coverage Survey will be launched on June 13. About 50,000 people will be interviewed.
NRS said: “We consulted a wide range of stakeholders to ensure the census was easy to complete. Paper copies could be requested via the free helpline, by asking a field team member or online.
"Over 200 groups, including a range of older people’s organisations, partnered with Scotland’s Census to promote and share information and the help and support available for completion.”
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