Dear All

We are very excited to be able to share with you at last our plans for the upcoming Census 2021 linkage with the NILS. After much discussion and review, we bring to you a new (and hopefully improved) proposal for a process that differs from that carried out for the 2011 Census linkage. The more focused timetable will give our users much quicker access to the full data release than was the case ten years ago.

The beta test projects will be developed with a small group of invited experienced users of the NILS. These methodological projects will assess key aspects of the data in short clearly-defined projects with the ambition of beta testing being started and completed within a two-month period. Pending feedback from the testers, the full data release is scheduled for December 2023 with all researchers being able to access the data from early 2024.

The NILS-RSU website is undergoing development to allow for a new dedicated Census 2021 page which we will continue to update regularly with details of the testing process, outcomes, and accompanying series of events to showcase the data and celebrate all the work involved in this important linkage. If you wish to receive email updates, please send a message to nils@qub.ac.uk.