HC Deb 24 February 1908 vol 184 cc1360-1
SIR GILBERT PARKER

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if he will arrange that at the taking of the next Census the information as to occupation shall be indicated in such a way that the numbers of skilled and unskilled working men, and their proportions to the adult males of the population, be recorded.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. JOHN BURNS, Battersea)

The Registrar-General informs me that there does not appear to him to be any practical method by which the desired information could be obtained by means of the next Census. The difficulty lies in framing a definition which would in practice enable it to be determined whether particular men are to be classed as skilled or unskilled in relation to the various employments in the country. I recognise, however, the object which the hon. Member has in view, and if he has any suggestions to mike on the point I have mentioned, the Registrar-General will be happy to consider them.

SIR GILBERT PARKER

Are the resources of the right hon. Gentleman's Department exhausted?

MR. JOHN BURNS

By no means, but it is impossible to make precisely the definition which the hon. Member seeks to obtain. If it can be done it will be done.