Census ‘crucial’ says Parker

CENSUS forms are about to drop through the letterboxes of every home in Oldham.

Charlie Parker, chief executive of Oldham Council, said: “This survey is absolutely crucial to the borough’s future — both in funding and planning terms.

Information provided to the Office for National Statistics will be treated in the strictest confidence. Personal information will not be released for 100 years.

Completing the 2011 Census is compulsory and those who fail to do so face fines of up to £1,000.