Statistics will continue to be produced and released free from political interference, a fiercely guarded democratic convention and an incredibly important one, I would stress. As an example of statistical independence, it will be the Statistician who determines the timing of the next census. The primary consideration for deciding whether the next census is in 2023 or 2024 is the viability of the census operation and the corresponding quality of census data. Considering whether to proceed with the census as soon as all relevant information is available is part of due diligence and should be done before investing time and money in activities that cannot be recouped, such as launching publicity campaigns and printing millions of forms.