THE cost of Scotland’s census have risen by more than £20m after it was delayed because of the Covid pandemic, the country’s spending watchdog has reported.

Scottish ministers decided in July 2020 to delay the census by a year. 

Originally due to cost £117million in 2021, the bill for the once-in-a-decade survey is now expected to be £21.6m, or 18 per cent, higher when it is held next March. 

Stephen Boyle, the Auditor General for Scotland, said “careful management” would also be needed to ensure its successful delivery.

He said the cost hike had had a “significant financial impact” on the National Records of Scotland (NRS), the public body responsible for planning and running the census.

However the Scottish Government had now provided funding to cover the increase.

Mr Boyle said: “The census programme began to face challenges in 2018. 

“NRS took steps to strengthen the programme and is now in a better position to deliver the census successfully in March 2022. 

“It is crucial that NRS continues to monitor and manage ongoing risks to deliver the census, which is a key source of information to help the public sector plan services and funding.” 

Censuses in other parts of the UK went ahead as planned in March 2021. 

However the other census-taking organisations had access to alternative sources of administrative data which could be used to supplement the census data if necessary. 

This option was not available for Scotland.