The Secretary of the Cornish Branch of the Celtic League has expressed his deep concern that the Office of National Statistics (ONS) has ruled out the possibility if a ethnic Cornish tick box on the 2011 Census form.
Responding to the email he received from the ONS with the news, Mike Chappell commented that if there is no Cornish tick box on the 2011 form he will not complete and return the form at all – No Cornish, No Census!
The Cornish Branch has registered to attend one of the ONS open meetings scheduled to take place in Cardiff in March 2007, planned to further develop views on the content of the 2011 Census in Cornwall, Wales and England.
"The results from the 2001 UK population census show that over 37,000 people hold a Cornish identity instead of English or British. On this census for the first time the Cornish were allocated the UK ethnic group code of '06'. However to claim to be Cornish, you had to first deny being British, by crossing out the British option, and then write in Cornish in the others box.
Additionally the decision to collect information on the Cornish identity was extremely badly publicised and many were unaware of the new code. How many more would have described themselves as Cornish if they did not have to deny being British or if there had been a Cornish tick box? How many people knew that it was an option ? How many ticked British but feel themselves to be Cornish British?
CL Cornish Branch members with the support of many others are making a stand and has been invited to Cardiff City Hall on 16th March, 2007 for an office for national Statistics workshop. Following a campaign of e-mails and letter writing to the ONS, they will personally convey the message to the ONS - 'No Cornish tick box - No Census completion' no matter what the consequences.
The Cornish Branch of the Celtic League calls for fraternal support from the other branches in this matter."
Further details and how to register for attendance at a ONS meeting can be found on the National Statistics website: (voir le site)
Contact Mike Chappell on michael.chappell@... if you would like to attend the Cardiff meeting. Transport costs are covered, but a donation of 5 pounds to contribute to petrol would be gratefully received.
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
19/01/07
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