§ 42. Sir Waldron Smithersasked the Minister of Health what is the number of Census forms to be printed for the 1951 Census; what is the cost; and if he will give similar figures for the last two censuses.
§ Mr. BlenkinsopApproximately 11½ million schedules were printed for 1921, 13 million for 1931, and 18 million for 1951, for the enumeration of the population of England and Wales. The cost for 1921 and 1931 cannot be separated from the total cost for printing, and the cost for 1951 cannot be given without disproportionate labour which would not be justified at present.
§ Sir W. SmithersIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that I hope that the people of once free Britain will take courage and follow the example of the Durham teachers, who struck a blow for freedom, and that they will put the Census forms into the fire?
§ 43. Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Health how much more information and how many more questions are required for the 1951 Census as compared with the two immediately previous censuses, respectively.
§ Mr. BlenkinsopTwenty-four questions appear on the form for England in 1951, as against 15 in 1921 and 13 in 1931, but there are only four more subjects of inquiry than in 1931, or two more than in 1921, the inquiries on marriage and children and on household arrangements comprising four and five short questions respectively. At each Census there is for Wales (including Monmouthshire) an additional question on the Welsh language.
§ Sir W. SmithersIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that I would like to repeat my supplementary question to the last Question, and that I hope that every newspaper in the country will print it?
§ 44. Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Health the purposes for which the detailed information required in Census Form, 1951, is necessary.
§ Mr. BlenkinsopI would refer the hon. Member to the statements made in the debate on the draft Census Order, 1950, on 11th July last, and to the Booklet "The Census Explained" issued by H.M. Stationery Office.
§ Sir W. SmithersMay I again repeat my supplementary question to No. 42?