HC Deb 06 June 1850 vol 111 cc870-1

MR. G. C. LEWIS moved for leave to bring in a Bill for taking an account of the population of Great Britain. It had been for some time the practice to take a census of the population at periods of ten years. The census of Great Britain was taken in 1801, and of Great Britain and Ireland in 1811, and at decennial periods up to 1841. Previous to 1841 the population was counted by means of the parish overseers; but in that year the office of registrar-general was substituted, for the purpose of obtaining an accurate account of the population. It was proposed in the year 1851, to use the same machinery as was used in taking the census of 1841. The only difference would be in the superintendence under which it would be now taken. It would be taken under the con- trol of the Secretary of State, by efficient persons most fitted to obtain the necessary information. For the last census, three commissioners were appointed—the registrar-general and two others; but it was hoped that a better arrangement would be now made. The expenses of the last census at the central offices were 29,000l.; the expense of the enumeration for England was 58,000l.; and for Scotland, 19,000l.; and the entire expense rather exceeded 100,000l. The expense of those two processes was in 1841 divided between the national exchequer and the local funds. The parishes paid the portion of the expense that consisted of the cost of enumeration, and the Treasury paid the expense of the central office. The parishes therefore paid over 70,000l. out of a sum of over 100,000l. By the present Bill he proposed that the sum now paid by the parishes should be repaid by a grant of money from Parliament. So the whole expense of this census would fall on the national exchequer, and no part of it would be taken out of the local funds. This Bill would apply to England and Scotland, and there would be another Bill for Ireland.

MR. STANFORD

asked whether it was in contemplation to distinguish the different trades and employments?

MR. G. C. LEWIS

said, it was proposed to obtain the same particulars as were obtained by the last census.

LORD GALWAY

asked on what day would the census be taken in 1851?

MR. G. C. LEWIS

replied, on the 9th of June, as before.

LORD GALWAY

said, that as a very great number of foreigners would probably be in London at that time, care must be taken not to include them in the census.

Leave given.

The House adjourned at half after Twelve o'clock.