§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that old age pension officers are refused access to the Census Returns for the purpose of verifying the ages of claimants; and whether he will make inquiry into the delays which occur in the Registrar-General's Department in replying to inquiries in respect of information contained in the Census Returns from 1881 onwards?
§ Mr. GREENWOODSearches are conducted in the General Register Office on behalf of the old age pension authorities in the Census Records up to the year 1871. No advantage, commensurate with the work entailed, would result from extending generally such searches to include Census records of a later date, as it is only in very exceptional circumstances that searches are made in later years. The hon. Member is doubtless aware that the later records were obtained under a promise of confidence. The actual searching is performed by skilled searchers, and it would certainly not be conducive to expeditious or successful results if it were entrusted to individual pension officers.