Charity blasts census questions and says they must change for the sake of developing future services.
The fact the UK and Scottish governments record how many people class themselves as Jedi Knights but have no information on the armed forces community living in the country has been blasted by veterans organisations.
The British Legion and PoppyScotland described the information collected via censuses as "strange" and called for the survey questions to be overhauled.
They want questions which help to record critical information about the size, location and profile of armed forces community to be included in the next census due to be taken in 2021.
Poppyscotland say doing so will create an insight that will help it, along with other voluntary and statutory organisations, develop future services.
Above: Another of the striking images used in the campaign
The charity’s head of welfare services Gary Gray said: “It seems strange that we know more about the circumstances of Scotland’s Jedi Knights and Cornish population than we do about those who have served, those still serving and their families.
“By asking questions in the next census we can shape and develop services to best meet the needs of those we seek to support. We hope the public gets behind the campaign to count them in.”
It seems strange that we know more about the circumstances of Scotland’s Jedi Knights than we do about those who have served
The most recent census, conducted in 2011, showed that there were 11,746 Jedi Knights in Scotland and 597 people who consider their religion to be Heavy Metal. There were exactly 2,888 schools crossing patrol employees yet the exact number of veterans living in Scotland is unknown.
In addition, 254 people in Scotland consider their nationality to be Cornish.
The armed forces community in Scotland – made up of serving and ex-service people and their dependants – is estimated to be around 530,000.
Despite this representing around 10% of the Scottish population, little is known about this group and the welfare needs they may face.
As Poppyscotland’s parent charity, the Royal British Legion has launched a website which is campaigning for changes to the censuses carried out in all parts of the UK.
Poppyscotland is asking people north of the border to visit the Count Them In website, to contact their local MP and MSP and to post their support on social media using #CountThemIn.
