h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

A heartfelt plea from an Englishman: What's question 9 about?

All it says on my form is 'This question is not applicable in England Go to 10'

Someone from Wales, Scotland or N. Ireland PLEASE tell me what they want to know. It's driving me up the wall.

I'm living in London, but I suspect it may be an extra question about religion. I heard they were asking about the religious tradition people were born into. Combined with question 10, this would give an idea of how many people move in and out of faith, or convert to other faiths.

But I could be entirely mistaken!

Oops! Almost entirely mistaken.

I checked out the official websites (should have done this first). [url removed by moderator]
In Wales, question 9 is about the Welsh language.

In Scotland, the numbers are all different. but there is, as I said, an extra question about the religious tradition people were 'brought up in'.

I didn't check any further.

Hi Kaeori,

Nice to see you again. Thanks for the info. Have you been to the page about football yet?

Re: the religion bit, why wouldn't they want this info about England?

I can't believe they moderated out the official website url. It's an official UK government website for heaven's sake. It's about 'statistics' hint, hint.

I didn't even type the url. I just used the same word as you, and suggested some bits you could put around it. Perhaps they should rename moderation as 'extremism'?

In Scotland they seem more developed and self-assured, and a little less paranoid. In England it's the first time they're asking about religion, and you don't have to answer. I think if you're going to ask about ethnicity with a view to keeping racial discrimination in check, as well as planning for people's needs, then it makes perfect sense to ask about religion.

I'll post this message, then have a look for the football page. I hope it has pics of that cute Mr Beckham...

Speaking as a dual British/Irish national I'm having trouble with the ethnicity question anyway. They've gone to the trouble of adding an Irish box to the White section (don't remember seeing that last time round) so I have to decide which I am for census purposes. Not that I think it's of earth-shattering significance but it has set me wondering why they've decided to analyse the Irish community this time.
Thanks for clearing up question 9 - it was driving me nuts too. Perhaps I should go and check out the government's statistics website for an answer to my question as well.

A better picture of ethnicity would have been to ask for your original language, that would then include a lot of people like me for whom English wasn't (quite) the first language.

Hi, I'm in Scotland and Question 9 asks Scottish people "Do you believe English people should use just one accent", If YES "What accent: Cockney, Cornish or Brumie"