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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Dayna McAlpine

Scotland Census 2022: Is it illegal to not fill in questionnaire and is there a fine?

Scotland's Census 2022 is now well underway as people across the country fill theirs out to help decide how their local community cares for them.

The census counts every person in the country and the results are used to plan public services and funding - with a whole host of new questions featured in 2022's once-in-a-decade questionnaire.

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The questionnaire is deemed a legal responsibility by the Scottish Government and every household is required to complete it.

But ignoring that census invite - which will have come through your letter box by now - could cost you a packet and the Scottish Government has warned that you could be fined £1,000 or even prosecuted for not completing the form online or on paper.

Refusing to complete the form, neglecting to answer a mandatory question, providing a false answer or signing a false document are all reasons you could be fined or prosecuted.

Scots have also been issued an urgent warning about scams surrounding the 2022 Census, with Advice Direct Scotland urging people to not give out personal or financial information.

According to the charity, scammers may get in touch under the guise of an official Census worker and ask for money for a fine or fee, or for personal financial information like a national insurance number, bank details or debit or credit card details.

Advice Direct Scotland said that Scotland’s Census will never ask for money or this type of personal financial information, and people who believe they are being targeted by a scam should report it.

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