The Census Regulations 1990

Collection of returns

13.—(1) Where under regulation 8(4) forms I or Iw have been delivered to persons mentioned in article 5(4) of the Census Order, the person responsible for delivering the forms, or any person who has taken his place, shall collect the completed forms on the day after census day or as soon thereafter as is reasonably practicable.

(2) On the day after census day, or as soon thereafter as is reasonably practicable, the enumerator shall collect all forms of return delivered by him and all separate forms of return issued in accordance with regulation 10 to persons within his enumeration district.

(3) Subject to paragraphs (4) and (5), the enumerator shall examine each form of return which he has collected and satisfy himself that the entries thereon are properly and sufficiently made, and for that purpose he shall make all such inquiries of the persons concerned in completing the form, or the persons with respect to whom the returns are made, as are reasonably necessary.

(4) The enumerator may open any sealed envelope which was issued under regulation 10 to a person electing to make an individual return, unless that person has asked the enumerator not to open it, in which case the enumerator shall pass the envelope unopened to an assistant census officer or to the census officer.

(5) The enumerator shall not open any envelope which was issued under regulation 11 and which is returned to him sealed, but shall instead pass the envelope unopened to an assistant census officer or to the census officer.

(6) An assistant census officer or the census officer may open any sealed envelope which has been passed to him from an enumerator in accordance with paragraph (4) or (5), and examine the form of return.

(7) If an assistant census officer or the census officer is not satisfied that the entries on a form of return are properly and sufficiently made, he may make all such inquiries of the persons concerned in completing the form, or the persons with respect to whom the returns are made, as are reasonably necessary.

(8) The Registrar General shall make arrangements for the collection of completed forms of return made by persons on vessels mentioned in Groups IV and V in Schedule 1 to the Census Order and by persons in places mentioned in Group VI in that Schedule.