§ SIR F. DIXON-HARTLAND (Middlesex, Uxbridge)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he can state what was the annual cost of the preliminary work performed before the last Census in carrying into effect the alterations caused in areas and boundaries by the operation of various Acts of Parliament; whether he can state the difference (if any) between the Census Vote and the estimated actual cost of taking the last Census; and whether, having regard to the numerous alterations continually being made in the boundaries of various areas, it is proposed, in accordance with the recommendations of the Departmental Committee on the Census, to take the necessary steps to insure the continuity of the Census by having these alterations in boundaries carried out in the Census Returns as soon as possible after they 445 come into operation, in order that the population of the new or altered areas may he available?
THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. SHAW LEFEVRK,) Bradford, CentralI am informed by the Registrar General that for nearly four years before the last Census was taken two clerks wore employed at an annual cost of about £240 in noting changes of areas and boundaries effected by the Divided Parishes Acts of 1876 and 1882. The difference between the amount voted for taking the Census in 1891 and tabulating the results and the expenditure will he a surplus of about £19,000. The best way of keeping abreast of these constantly occurring changes in areas is now under consideration in the General Register Office.