§ MR. DAVID THOMAS (Merthyr Tydvil)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been called to the numerous complaints from the Principality, that at the recent Census, Welsh Schedules were refused to Welsh speaking persons, that in many cases the English forms supplied contained no language columns, and that in some instances whole rows of cottages were left without forms of any kind; and what steps. he proposes to take under these circumstances to ensure accurate and reliable Returns from Wales?
§ MR. LONGEvery Registrar in Wales and in Monmouthshire was asked for a statement of the number of schedules in the Welsh language that he would probably require, and this number, with an addition for possible underestimate on his part, was sent to him, the receipt of the same being acknowledged by him. No complaint has been received at the Census Office of the supply having been insufficient. As regards the statement that in many cases English forms without the language column were supplied, it is possible that in some exceptional instances the packers may, by mistake, have put a bundle of such forms into the parcel sent to a Welsh Registrar; but the Registrar General has only received information of two cases in which such a mistake was made. No information has been received at the Census Office of " whole rows of cottages having been left without forms of any kind." In all cases where complaint has been made that 133 the enumerator has left a house or houses without schedules, the Registrar General has given immediate orders that the omission shall be ' rectified. In any case where it shall be shown that schedules without the language column have been distributed in Wales or in Monmouthshire, the Registrar General will take steps to have the necessary information collected by a fresh visitation.
§ MR. S. SMITHI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that at Tryddyn, in Flintshire, Census forms, intended for England, without the 12th column to state what language is used by the persons enumerated, were distributed, and that the proper Welsh forms could not be obtained; and whether any steps will be taken to enable the inhabitants to state what language they use?
§ MR. LONGThe Registrar General will cause inquiry to be made, and if the facts be as stated, will cause steps to be taken to enable the inhabitants to supplement their former schedules.
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGE (Carnarvon, &c.)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he has received any complaints with regard to the alleged tampering by the collector of the Census papers at Machynlleth, Montgomeryshire, with the language column in the returns by substituting the word " both " for the words " Welsh only "; whether he will cause inquiries to be made into this allegation; and whether any steps will be taken to ensure the accuracy of the returns?
§ MR. LONGI am informed by the Registrar General that no such complaint has been received by him; but he will make inquiry on the subject.
§ MR. S. T. EVANS (Glamorgan, Mid)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware of the fact that in many districts in Wales no Welsh Census papers have been distri-buted or delivered when they were demanded; what method was adopted for (the allocation or distribution of the papers; and with whom the blame rests for the neglect in not having a sufficient number of the papers circulated and delivered?
§ MR. LONGI must refer to the answer which I have already given to the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydvil.