Borough 'will lose millions because on new census'

10 March 2010

NEXT year's census could leave Newham residents millions of pounds worse off because the way population is measured is flawed, says Robin Wales.

The council, together with two other London authorities, has expressed concerns over plans for the 2011 Census. They believe there will be an undercount, leaving them short of cash from central Government.

Leaders from Newham told MPs they were not confident the Office For National Statistics (ONS) would gather accurate data.

Newham Mayor, Sir Robin Wales told the London Regional Committee that the ONS knew the figures were "absolutely rubbish."

"The point is that each of us understands our populations. We can each do our own negotiation with the ONS. That would be the way forward."

The ONS is currently carrying out a national address-matching process for all local authorities, having completed Census "rehearsals" last year in three pilot areas; Isle of Anglesey, Lancaster and Newham.

Robin Wales told the Recorder: "It is important that local authorities have confidence in the methodology which informs funding allocations and that the Census in 2011 will count residents accurately."

Full story by Kay Atwal in this week's Recorder