§ MR. J. BARCLAYasked the Lord Advocate. The cause of the delay in publishing the Census Returns for Scotland, and when they will be issued?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATETwo volumes have been presented of these Census Returns, the last on the 31st July, 1873. The delay in the publishing of the third and remaining volume has been the subject of correspondence between the Home Secretary and the authorities in Scotland, and we are informed that the delay has been duo to throe causes. In the first place, the preparation of certain special Returns from the Education Board under the provisions of the Education Act; then a large amount of matter being given in the form of remarks on the result of the Census, in addition to that contained in the Report, applicable to the Census of 1861; and in the third place, the Superintendent of the Census Office has been ill. Every exertion is now being made to complete the work, and it is hoped that this will be accomplished in the month of May.