An order approving May 20 as the starting date for the 2016 census has been passed by Parliament.

Its questionnaire, which Michael Dunkley described as “tried and tested by the Department of Statistics”, is expected to have a 10 to 12 per cent completion rate from its electronic version.

Although a mail version remains as a last resort, using the e-census would reduce both time and cost, the Premier said.

The first census since 2010 will include a new question: persons without health insurance will be asked to give their reasons for not having coverage.

Asked about the possibility of amending the wording of questions, Mr Dunkley said that in light of time constrains, it was “prudent that we stick with what we have here”.