§ Sir David SteelTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to include a question on the use of Scots in the next census in 2001 on the same basis as the existing question on Gaelic. [36987]
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe General Register Office for Scotland, together with the Census Office for England and Wales, the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, has started to consult users of census information about their needs from the next census of population, planned for 2001. A number of letters have been received expressing support for a question on the Scots language. Needs have also been expressed for information about various other languages and other topics.
The census offices and users will consider whether these requirements can be met by a set of simple questions without the census form imposing an undue burden on the public. For each topic a preliminary assessment will be made on whether the census is the most appropriate means of collecting the required information. Questions for which there is likely to be a good case will be tested to see if the public find them acceptable and can provide answers of a quality adequate to meet user's needs. Business cases for such questions and previously proven questions will then be considered. The Government's proposals will be pubished in 1998, and the final selection of questions will be approved by Parliament.
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