Considering that (in the UK) not everyone reports accurately, would
not sampling be more appropriate?

Hi again! Thanks once more for another interesting question.

The UK parliament is actually seeking alternative ways to conduct the
census. In fact they are seriously considering the methods in other
Nordic countries of simple population count plus sample enhancement.
Here is the full document to make it clear:

"We explored what alternatives there are to undertaking a full Census.
Mr Cook told us that without the Census there would still be measures
that count the population in some way. There are very good birth and
death records in the UK and important information is becoming
available through the computerisation of administrative records in
public agencies such as the Department of Work and Pensions."

"Some Nordic countries have ceased having censuses because of their
ability to integrate information from a variety of powerful public
registers holding information on matters such as tax and family
benefits. Some countries undertake a simple count of the population
and others enhance this by asking samples of households to complete a
fuller form. ONS is investigating the practice in France and Israel of
a rolling census covering 10 per cent of the population each year."

"The need for a Census"
http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200102/cmselect/cmtreasy/310/31004.htm

So in a nutshell, other countries are getting there, thanks to the
help of technology which can integrate these different sources of data
thereby foregoing the need for a full census.

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Just brilliant! Many thanks.

Note to Kemlo: I'm having problems finding my Irish grand daddy on the
1901 Census so I don't have much faith in the present system. (Oh,
yes, he was in England at the time, probably in Lincolnshire ... Or is
that in Wales? (I forget).

Fasvinating stuff!

Hi probonopublico
Just think of your desendents as they search the public records
looking for traces of you in a hundred years time

Well in the United States Constitution requires that they have head
count every ten years. During Clinton administration they wanted to
use sampling count but it was overruled by the Supreme Court.
http://www.jointcenter.org/census/supreme_court.htm

Aren't you really asking for an opinion? I am sure that you enjoyed
finding someone to agree with you. It cost only 2 dollars, you got to
laugh as the  silly folks who actually tried to treat this as a
research question, all grabbing for the 2 bucks. And as for you, dear
questioner, I am sure your jollies have been had.

Oh, by the way, if I were to question the national count I might
phrase it thusly: Is the Census as it is taken under current
procedures necessary to the status quo of the nation, or perhaps the
detriment or betterment of our society?  At least the researchers
would have had to really look for authoritative sources to back up
their opinions and do a little more sweating for those two pissy
little bucks. Weenie. (I have been assured by a Google researcher that
referring to another as a "Weenie" is not a vulgarity and certainly
not an obscenity. A little immature, perhaps..Weenie....

Hi, Larry (Feral)

Many thanks for your comment but, as you (in your own words) only
discovered GA on March 20 and as you have never even asked a question,
I cannot regard you as an authority on how I should phrase MY
questions.

I appreciate that you are frustrated by not having been accepted
immediately as a researcher but I do assure you that I am DELIGHTED
with the service that I have received from so many different
Researchers.

Moreover, I have no wish to 'make them sweat' for their money. On the
contrary, I believe that they deliver really good value.

Kindest regards

Bryan (ProBono)