To ask the Scottish Government how data from the most recent Scottish census is being used. (S6O-03326)

The first results from the 2022 census were published by National Records of Scotland on Thursday 14 September 2023. The first outputs included estimates of the total population of Scotland and the population sizes in every local authority area, including a breakdown by five-year age groups and sex. They also showed the change in population since the previous census in 2011.

The availability of up-to-date census population data has already facilitated the development of Scottish Government policies, such as developing more targeted interventions aimed at supporting communities that are experiencing population decline.

Those results were only the first step in publishing a wide range of unique data from the census. From May 2024, National Records of Scotland will publish a series of topic data from the 2022 census.

The Highlands and Islands already faces many challenges, including the delivery of public services such as healthcare, housing and vital lifeline links. Failure to deliver those services properly risks the sustainability of some of our communities. As the cabinet secretary said, depopulation is a constant threat.

The Scottish Government’s “Supporting and enabling sustainable communities: An Action Plan to Address Depopulation” was published in February this year, but that was before some key data from the Scottish census was released. We know that the census was delayed and that it was millions of pounds over budget. What analysis has the Scottish Government undertaken, or is planning to undertake, of the impact of the delayed release of census data on its policy development and delivery and on the ability of other organisations, such as local councils, to deliver on their work?

Jamie Halcro Johnston is absolutely right to draw attention to the importance of census data to the delivery of public services throughout Scotland, including the north of Scotland and the northern isles, which I know are very close to his heart.

There was a change in the latest census through the inclusion of what is known as administrative data, which allows for greater granularity, using huge data sets that are held throughout Scotland’s public services. I know that that will be of great interest to Jamie Halcro Johnston and other colleagues.

I have said to National Records of Scotland that, when the next tranche of information is released, there should be a meeting for MSPs from across the chamber so that they can understand how that works and raise any needs, interests, concerns and expectations that they might have, so that everyone can have confidence that the census data is as useful as Jamie Halcro Johnston knows it to be and about what lessons need to be learned about the conduct of future censuses and the use of administrative data.

Depopulation reversal and growth in the islands of Burra and Trondra correlate with the addition of bridges that connect them to the Shetland mainland. The next phase of transport infrastructure in the islands could be short subsea tunnels, which would help to boost Scotland’s aquaculture and space economy. Does the cabinet secretary agree that census data should be used to help to map depopulation and inform policy in areas such as transport connectivity?

As Beatrice Wishart knows, there is no quick fix for the challenges that lead to depopulation. However, the action plan to address depopulation sets out how we will work with regional, local and community partners to ensure that we collectively deliver a sustainable solution to those challenges.

Beatrice Wishart is absolutely right to point to the role that the census and census data can play in our understanding of differences in population and other important information that can steer local and national decision making. There is the possibility that the data might be updated not just every 10 years but in between.

I refer to what I said in response to Jamie Halcro Johnston’s question. I extend to Beatrice Wishart the opportunity to speak to those who compiled and worked on the most recent census to better understand what we can learn from it and the ways in which it is compiled now and will be going into the future. I am sure that it will be of significant benefit to her constituents in Shetland.