In June, census authorities wrote to all households who had refused to complete the census to “advise them that they are at risk of being referred for potential prosecution and may receive a criminal record or fine”.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said it had launched no prosecutions because “no cases have been reported from National Records Scotland”, The Times reports.

Only 87.5 per cent of households have so far completed the census, well below the 94 per cent target.