§ Mr. CLAUDE LOWTHERasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the far-reaching schemes of social legislation now pending, His Majesty's Government would consider the advisability of immediately taking a special census of those likely to be affected, providing data as to sex, age, trade, wages, locality, periods of unemployment or invalidity, and membership of organised or unorganised trades; and whether such essential foundations for all social reforms would be made available prior to the ultimate consideration of the Unemployment and Invalidity Insurance Bill?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)A large amount of special statistical information has already been collected by the Treasury and the Board of Trade in connection with the proposals referred to in the question, and it is more than doubtful whether anything in the nature of a 474 "special census" would produce results of any real value with regard either to the incidence of sickness or the prevalence of unemployment amongst the working classes. As these are the main problems involved, and as a special census of the kind contemplated would involve great expense and considerable delay, I do not think that the advantages likely to be derived from it would justify the adoption of the hon. Member's suggestion.