§ 25. Viscount CURZONasked the Minister of Health whether ladies are employed as enumerators for Census purposes; whether any efforts were made to employ ex-service men for this purpose; and how many women and how many men are actually employed upon the duties?
§ Sir A. MONDThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part of the question, while, as stated in the reply of the late Minister of Health on 2nd March last, of which I am sending the Noble Lord a copy, the conditions attaching to these appointments have rendered them unsuitable for offer exclusively to unemployed ex-service men, and the position in this respect has been fully recognised by organisations specially concerned with their interests, appointments have been made in a large number of cases in which the applicants were able to satisfy the necessary conditions; and though many such persons, as expected, found it necessary to withdraw upon obtaining regular employment, a substantial number are, in fact, being employed. With regard to the third part of the question, the figures desired are not as yet available.
§ 30. Mr. ROSEasked the Minister of Health if, in view of the urgent public need of information as to our industrial population, and the fact that the full occupational census has usually taken from three to four years to compile in detail, he will take measures to issue as early as possible an approximate or round figure occupational census showing the rough totals of occupied and unoccupied persons, and the allocation of the occupied population amongst the industries?
§ Sir A. MONDAs no occupational figures for the whole country, however approximate, could in any event be furnished until every individual return has been examined and classified, it does not appear that advantage is to be gained by any departure from the present pro- 2151 gramme. It is intended to prepare and publish the occupational and certain other census statistics by counties. The earliest issue may be expected in a few months, and the whole will, it is hoped, be completed in two years. The importance of these figures is recognised, and every effort will be made to expedite their issue.
§ Mr. ROSEHas the right hon. Gentleman quite realised that it is absolutely impossible for this House to frame any sort of intelligent legislation on industrial and social subjects without anything to guide them but the merest conjecture, and will he state what stands in the way of obtaining a rough idea of how the occupied population is allocated among our industries?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe right hon. Gentleman has just answered that question.