§ 38. Mr. FREEMANasked the Minister of Health whether he can now state the total population as at the recent Census?
§ The MINISTER of HEALTH (Mr. Arthur Greenwood)As indicated in reply to a previous question on the subject, it is expedient that the Census results when available should be presented as a whole; and I would accordingly ask my hon. Friend and other hon. Members who may be interested in particular Census figures, to await the preliminary report, which should be published by the first week in July.
§ 39. Commander SOUTHBYasked the Minister of Health whether any alteration in the method of taking the Census and appointing the necessary officials is contemplated in order to obviate private and confidential information having to be given to temporary employés who are not responsible civil servants?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI am not clear what alterations the hon. and gallant Member has in mind; but I may point out that the preservation of the confidential nature of the Census returns is the express subject of safeguarding provisions in the Census Act, 1920, which apply to all Census officials regardless of the source of their recruitment. I have no reason to think that those provisions are in any way inadequate.
§ Commander SOUTHBYIs the Minister of Health satisfied that the general public have no ground for complaint in this matter?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI can only judge from the number of complaints that have been made, and they are negligible in number.
§ Mr. MILLSIs the Minister aware that the provision made for the cost of transport in scattered areas has been widely criticised, and will he make provision in future so that the remuneration covers the cost of transport?
§ Mr. GREENWOODThe hon. Member has a question on that point, and I think my answer will cover it.
§ 43. Mr. CHARLES WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Health when the results of the recent Census will be known?
§ Mr. GREENWOODThe preliminary report of Census results for England and Wales is nearing completion, and should be published by the first week in July.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSCan the right hon. Member tell the House why his Department is so much slower than the Department for Scotland?
§ Mr. GREENWOODBecause we happen to have a much larger population.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSThat is a previous answer, but will the right hon. Member tell me why they are so much slower when, obviously, the English Department has a much larger staff to cope with the work?
§ Mr. GREENWOODWith all due deference to the Secretary of State for Scotland, I do not think it is true.
§ 55. Mr. MILLSasked the Minister of Health if he will inquire into the action of the Registrar-General in the matter of enumerators' fees and allowances for the recent Census: and if he is aware that the 5s. claim made in accordance with the regulation has been struck out, without reason or injury, and that no travel remuneration has been paid in the Dartford Division of Kent?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI understand that mileage payments have been made in the Dartford Division; but the amounts paid are few and small since the basis of calculation is intended to benefit the purely rural districts. I see no reason 607 to make any general inquiry, but if my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind I will look into it if he will let me have the facts.
§ Mr. MILLSIs the Minister aware that the flat rate of 5s. has been struck out without any reason; and will he make inquiries into this complaint?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI shall be very glad to inquire into any particular case.