Ros in the Lords: Written Question - Census

Those of you who have looked at your Census forms will have noted the warning that "your census response is required by law". Further study indicates that "you could face a fine if you don't participate". Scary, eh? Lucky that I'm not responsible then, isn't it? Or am I? And here's the twist. The householder is responsible for ensuring that it is completed. And who, pray tell, is that?

Asked by Baroness Scott of Needham Market

To ask Her Majesty's Government which persons within a household have the legal responsibility to complete the 2011 Census.[HL7491]

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Answer by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 7 March (Official Report, col. 1354), what is their understanding of the term "head of the household"; and on what, if any, legal source they are basing that understanding.[HL7492]

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Stephen Penneck, Director-General for ONS, to Baroness Scott of Needham Market, dated March 2011.

As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions asking, (a) which persons within a household have the legal responsibility to complete the 2011 Census (HL7491); and (b) what is the Government's understanding of the term "head of the household"; and on what, if any, legal source they are basing that understanding. (HL7492)

(a) It is the householder or joint householder who is responsible for completing the household census questionnaire on behalf of all residents living at their address. In households where the responsibilities of the householder fall on more than one person, any such person may complete the questionnaire on behalf of the entire household.

Any person living at an address who is over the age of 16, may request an individual questionnaire, rather than be included on the household questionnaire.

Any person responsible for completing a questionnaire may authorise any other person to do this on their behalf, if they are unable to do so themselves for any reason.

(b) The terms "householder" or "joint householder" are used in the 2011 Census rather than "head of the household".

The Census (England and Wales) Order 2009 (S.I 2009/3210) defines a householder or joint householder as "a person usually resident at the address who either owns or rents accommodation at that address, or is responsible for paying household bills and expenses there". A household is also defined in the order as being "one person living alone or a group (whether or not related) living at the same address who share cooking facilities and share a living room, sitting room or dining room".

So, if I don't fill it in, and neither does Ros, which one of us are they going to prosecute? Or would they prosecute both of us? Is it possible for a Peer of the Realm not to be the householder? Or should I assume that the law is a sexist ass?