UK Census announce technology partners

T-Systems, the business customer unit of Deutsche Telekom, has been selected by the UK Census Authorities to run technology and services tests across parts of England and Wales next year in preparation for a full Census in 2011.

Following an extensive competitive tender process involving six bidders, the Census Authorities have now narrowed their selection to T-Systems and one other bidder to undertake a live 2007 Census test before awarding the final contract. The winner will have the challenge of developing high-tech solutions to collect, process and respond to millions of questionnaires and calls for the 2011 Census.

As part of this 2007 test period, T-Systems will deliver against two key requirements. The first will be to provide timely information on the status of each Census questionnaire, allowing the Authorities to quickly deploy resources in the field to maximise return rates. And, the second will be to deliver a multilingual Contact Centre to provide support to members of the public.

Census Director at the Office for National Statistics, Ian Cope, said: “The Test is a key step in helping us to make sure that we formulate the most effective questionnaire and procedures to ensure the 2011 Census is a success.”

T-Systems have broad international experience in the planning, development and operation of information and communications technology (ICT) solutions. “We believe that our expertise in the public sector played a part in our success at being shortlisted to this final phase of negotiations. We are confident that we have the people, skills, technologies and robust solutions to meet the requirements of the 2011 Census Authorities” said T-Systems UK Chief Executive Officer, Jan van der Merwe.

T-Systems are the market leader of ICT solutions in the public sector in Germany and Spain. In Germany, for example, T-Systems enables the seamless communication among many different municipal, state and federal governments, and is currently operating a pilot project for the electronic health card. In Spain, T-Systems operates the citizen’s portal of the autonomous government of Catalonia, and provides solutions for over 500 public institutions, including seven federal ministries and over 50 major cities and city councils.

The final contract to deliver the Census 2011 will rely increasingly on technology to help reach across the UK and accurately capture and record the depth of information required to deliver a successful Census outcome.

This 2007 test period is planned to run until late next year with one of the two final bidders eventually being selected as overall winner to work with the Census Authorities and deliver the full technology services for the 2011 programme.

About Census 2011

The Registrars General for England & Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland have agreed (subject to appropriate approval by the relevant legislatures) to conduct Censuses simultaneously throughout the UK in 2011. The legislation relating to the specific arrangements for the Census in each country requires the approval of  the UK Parliament in Westminster for England and Wales (and, where agreed, the Welsh Assembly Government); the Scottish Parliament for Scotland and the appropriate legislature for Northern Ireland. The arrangements for 2011 will be formally announced in October / November 2008. As with previous Censuses, the respective legislatures will formally endorse the requirement for a 2011 Census in 2009.

The Censuses in the UK are counts every ten years of all people and households.  The next Census for each country in the UK is planned for 2011, with a Test in Scotland in 2006 (outside the scope of this procurement) and a Test mainly for England & Wales and Northern Ireland in 2007; an Integration Test in 2008 and a Rehearsal in 2009. Activities include the detailed planning and the delivery, collection, capture, analysis and reporting of information taken from about 30 million Census returns.

Media Contacts:
Tim Hunt, Head of Corporate Marketing & Communications
T-Systems Limited
Telephone:  +44 (0)78 7676 5007
E-mail:  tim.hunt@t-systems.co.uk

T-Systems Media RelationsPhone: +49 (0) 69 665 31-126
Fax: +49 (0) 69 665 31-139
E-mail: presse@t-systems.com

 

David Marder, Senior Press Officer
Media Contact – Office for National Statistics:
Office for National Statistics
Telephone:  +44 (0)20 7533 5712
E-mail:  david.marder@ons.gov.uk