State snoopers to pry even more in next census

Britannist · 01-11-2006, 08:41 PM

Conservatives have warned that the Government is in danger of destroying the goodwill of the nation after it was revealed that State snoopers are to demand new information about incomes and property in the next nationwide Census.

Shadow Local Government and Communities Secretary Caroline Spelman protested at new levels of intrusion when it emerged that for the first time every resident of the United Kingdom must answer questions on how much they earn and reveal any second address and the 'frequency' of their visits.

And she warned that civil liberties were facing further erosion as couples who do not live together find themselves forced to register with State inspectors how often they stay the night with their partner, boyfriend or girlfriend.

Mrs Spelman said: "The Census relies on public goodwill to paint a comprehensive picture of the nation. The Labour Government is now in danger of destroying that goodwill by being ever more intrusive.

"Step by step, this greedy Government is giving state snoopers stronger powers to interfere in people's lives. Households face £1,000 for refusing entry to a council tax inspector. Town hall bureaucrats are installing microchips in our bins. And now, Census snoops want to look into your pay packet and record which houses you sleep in."

She added: "I fear these powers will be used to increase taxes by stealth, particularly to build up a Big Brother database of people's property and lifestyles. Gordon Brown's desire to increase the tax take cannot be a justification for this intrusion into our private lives."

Under plans revealed at Westminster, it emerged that householders face £1,000 for refusing to answer questions of Census inspectors.

Conservatives have expressed alarm that this 'geo-demographic' data will be used to increase council tax bills - either via helping implement a 'nice neighbourhood' tax for more prosperous areas - or removing the 25% single person discount from council tax bills if their partner stays the night 'too often'.

Mrs Spelman spoke out after the Office of National Statistics, an arm of the Treasury, announced that it is planning to insert new questions in the 2011Census - asking for the first time, information about people's income and about their homes. "New questions… Income - to collect level and sources of income… Second address - to identify the number of people with a regular second address and the purpose and frequency of its use."

She warned that this could be used to ask questions about the extent of co-habitation or 'staying the night' by couples who do not formally live together. Currently, single person household receive a 25% discount on council tax, since they use local public services to a small degree.

Under the Census Act 1920, householders face a 'level 3' fine - £1000 - for "refusing to answer" any census question.

(Source: Conservative Party website 1.11.2006)

mkpdavies · 02-11-2006, 08:18 AM

My goodwill is already on empty.

I now no longer believe this is reality. I am in a bad dream, after reading 1984.

prober · 02-11-2006, 03:17 PM

Dont worry, the government promises that the data will be confidential to statistical analysists and not looked at by implementing agencies. ( Just as the Avon & Somerset Police had a promise on their application form that ethnic group ticks would not be looked at in the selection process) .... and then promptly did so in its decision to "randomly exclude" a % of white ethnic groups from being allowed an interview .

So dont get worked up at this nonsense . The Golden rule is always to protect yourself by making the answers up. eg income a miserable £1000/yr. For ethnic group always tick anything but "White ". When the religous questions come in, decide which branch of Islam you are.

mkpdavies · 02-11-2006, 03:22 PM

That is breaking the law, which people like Beseoker will say makes you a bad man.

I say it is our duty to break bad laws.

brian pearson · 02-11-2006, 08:40 PM

Straight in the bin. Just like the last one.

01-11-2006, 08:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
Britannist Uber Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: London Posts: 22,896	State snoopers to pry even more in next census Conservatives have warned that the Government is in danger of destroying the goodwill of the nation after it was revealed that State snoopers are to demand new information about incomes and property in the next nationwide Census. Shadow Local Government and Communities Secretary Caroline Spelman protested at new levels of intrusion when it emerged that for the first time every resident of the United Kingdom must answer questions on how much they earn and reveal any second address and the 'frequency' of their visits. And she warned that civil liberties were facing further erosion as couples who do not live together find themselves forced to register with State inspectors how often they stay the night with their partner, boyfriend or girlfriend. Mrs Spelman said: "The Census relies on public goodwill to paint a comprehensive picture of the nation. The Labour Government is now in danger of destroying that goodwill by being ever more intrusive. "Step by step, this greedy Government is giving state snoopers stronger powers to interfere in people's lives. Households face £1,000 for refusing entry to a council tax inspector. Town hall bureaucrats are installing microchips in our bins. And now, Census snoops want to look into your pay packet and record which houses you sleep in." She added: "I fear these powers will be used to increase taxes by stealth, particularly to build up a Big Brother database of people's property and lifestyles. Gordon Brown's desire to increase the tax take cannot be a justification for this intrusion into our private lives." Under plans revealed at Westminster, it emerged that householders face £1,000 for refusing to answer questions of Census inspectors. Conservatives have expressed alarm that this 'geo-demographic' data will be used to increase council tax bills - either via helping implement a 'nice neighbourhood' tax for more prosperous areas - or removing the 25% single person discount from council tax bills if their partner stays the night 'too often'. Mrs Spelman spoke out after the Office of National Statistics, an arm of the Treasury, announced that it is planning to insert new questions in the 2011Census - asking for the first time, information about people's income and about their homes. "New questions… Income - to collect level and sources of income… Second address - to identify the number of people with a regular second address and the purpose and frequency of its use." She warned that this could be used to ask questions about the extent of co-habitation or 'staying the night' by couples who do not formally live together. Currently, single person household receive a 25% discount on council tax, since they use local public services to a small degree. Under the Census Act 1920, householders face a 'level 3' fine - £1000 - for "refusing to answer" any census question. (Source: Conservative Party website 1.11.2006)

02-11-2006, 08:18 AM	#2 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 30,604	My goodwill is already on empty. I now no longer believe this is reality. I am in a bad dream, after reading 1984. __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

02-11-2006, 03:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 30,604	That is breaking the law, which people like Beseoker will say makes you a bad man. I say it is our duty to break bad laws. __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

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02-11-2006, 03:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
prober Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 836	Dont worry, the government promises that the data will be confidential to statistical analysists and not looked at by implementing agencies. ( Just as the Avon & Somerset Police had a promise on their application form that ethnic group ticks would not be looked at in the selection process) .... and then promptly did so in its decision to "randomly exclude" a % of white ethnic groups from being allowed an interview . So dont get worked up at this nonsense . The Golden rule is always to protect yourself by making the answers up. eg income a miserable £1000/yr. For ethnic group always tick anything but "White ". When the religous questions come in, decide which branch of Islam you are.

02-11-2006, 08:40 PM	#5 (permalink)
brian pearson Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: nottinghanshire Posts: 637	Straight in the bin. Just like the last one.