MP calls on council to challenge census (From Echo)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting ECHONEWS to 80360, or email us »
MP calls on council to challenge census
7:00am Wednesday 8th August 2012 in Local News
By Stephen Hackwell
SOUTHEND’S “shocking” census results must be challenged in the courts to avoid losing up to £130million over the next decade, according to one of the town’s MPs.
James Duddridge , the Tory MP for Rochford and Southend East, has “in the strongest possible terms” called for Southend Council to pursue a judicial review of the population count taken last year. Mr Duddridge claimed the official figure of 173,600 people was 15,000 to 20,000 short of the real total. That could cost the town an estimated £13million in Government funding every year until 2021. A similar miscount in 2001 is thought to have led to an £80million shortfall in funding over the last decade.
Mr Duddridge said: “That simply cannot be allowed to happen again. This is a shocking result. We must act decisively and swiftly to correct it.”
The MP added there were bound to be difficulties with the counting process.
But he branded the Office for National Statistics, which conducted the census, “incompetent” for failing to corroborate its results with other available figures.
He pointed out the number of homes paying council tax in Southend last year – 76,485 – was 1,785 higher than the census’s household count.
A change in the system means the only way for council chiefs to alter the census result will be through the courts.
Nigel Holdcroft , the Tory council leader, agreed with Mr Duddridge’s sentiments, but pointed out a legal challenge could be costly.
He said: “I agree with James’s view that there has clearly been an under-count once again, as is supported by the council tax records.
“However, we are still investigating the likely extent of that and the financial effect on the authority before a final decision is taken, as to whether there are grounds for a judicial review.”
Comments(7)
rodgdodge
says...
7:24am Wed 8 Aug 12
rodgdodge wrote:where do they get their figures, if they ignore the councils ones??
See below from Wiki. Seem critics had a point, don`t you think? Especially since the office has no political accountability for incorrect figures.
``Gradual move of functions to South Wales
The ONS asserts that recruitment and training of quality staff in South Wales, where data collection and analysis already takes place, will ensure that there is no risk to the quality of its services and that it is managing the risks associated with the changes which it is implementing in a planned and gradual way. However the plan to discontinue all remaining statistical activity in London is proving controversial amid claims that the shift of functions from London and the impending closure of the London office could have serious implications for the future of certain particular sets of statistics. These include health statistics, National Accounts, Retail and Consumer Prices and Labour Market Statistics. These risks derive from the fact that few of the experienced staff working in these highly technical areas are expected to be willing to relocate to Newport, resulting in a substantial loss of expertise and a consequent threat to the continued quality of the statistics. In a submission to the Parliamentary Treasury Sub Committee, the Bank of England too has expressed concern over the relocation of the ONS to Newport, saying, that "the relocation programme poses serious risks to the maintenance of the quality of macroeconomic data. If substantial numbers of ONS staff are unwilling to relocate, the loss of skilled individuals could have a severe impact on a range of statistics." The director of ONS has vigorously defended ONS implementation of government policy on civil service relocation and the decision to concentrate staff in the three locations outside London.``
Brunning999
says...
8:26am Wed 8 Aug 12
Lefty Cyclist Type
says...
12:24pm Wed 8 Aug 12
Brunning999 wrote:Really? I haven't seen any. Maybe you spotted the ones wearing 'I'm an illegal immigrant' T-shirts.
They forgot to mention the 20,000 illegal immigrants that everyone can see in Southend High Street.
Barry Bas
says...
2:35pm Wed 8 Aug 12
Brunning999 wrote:They're called tourists, most seaside towns get them around this time of year.
They forgot to mention the 20,000 illegal immigrants that everyone can see in Southend High Street.
Brunning999
says...
5:34pm Wed 8 Aug 12
Lefty Cyclist Type wrote:Hi lefty. Should have gone to Specsavers, or they could have all been in Wetherspoons when you went shopping.
Brunning999 wrote:Really? I haven't seen any. Maybe you spotted the ones wearing 'I'm an illegal immigrant' T-shirts.
They forgot to mention the 20,000 illegal immigrants that everyone can see in Southend High Street.
Lefty Cyclist Type
says...
6:00pm Wed 8 Aug 12
Brunning999 wrote:Perhaps you could help me out then.
Lefty Cyclist Type wrote:Hi lefty. Should have gone to Specsavers, or they could have all been in Wetherspoons when you went shopping.
Brunning999 wrote:Really? I haven't seen any. Maybe you spotted the ones wearing 'I'm an illegal immigrant' T-shirts.
They forgot to mention the 20,000 illegal immigrants that everyone can see in Southend High Street.
What does an illegal immigrant look like?
rodgdodge says...
7:23am Wed 8 Aug 12
``Gradual move of functions to South Wales
The ONS asserts that recruitment and training of quality staff in South Wales, where data collection and analysis already takes place, will ensure that there is no risk to the quality of its services and that it is managing the risks associated with the changes which it is implementing in a planned and gradual way. However the plan to discontinue all remaining statistical activity in London is proving controversial amid claims that the shift of functions from London and the impending closure of the London office could have serious implications for the future of certain particular sets of statistics. These include health statistics, National Accounts, Retail and Consumer Prices and Labour Market Statistics. These risks derive from the fact that few of the experienced staff working in these highly technical areas are expected to be willing to relocate to Newport, resulting in a substantial loss of expertise and a consequent threat to the continued quality of the statistics. In a submission to the Parliamentary Treasury Sub Committee, the Bank of England too has expressed concern over the relocation of the ONS to Newport, saying, that "the relocation programme poses serious risks to the maintenance of the quality of macroeconomic data. If substantial numbers of ONS staff are unwilling to relocate, the loss of skilled individuals could have a severe impact on a range of statistics." The director of ONS has vigorously defended ONS implementation of government policy on civil service relocation and the decision to concentrate staff in the three locations outside London.``