Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he hopes to be able to announce the format of 1991 census questions on(a) Scots Gaelic speakers in Scotland, (b) Irish Gaelic speakers in Northern Ireland, (c) Welsh speakers in Wales, (d) speakers of indigenous languages other than English in England and (e) speakers of non-indigenous languages in the United Kingdom.
§ Mrs. Currie[holding answer 18 April 1988]: No decisions have yet been taken on the content of the 1991 census. Proposals for Great Britain will be published as a White Paper later this year. It is planned to test the proposed questionnaire in early 1989 and thereafter to lay before Parliament a draft Order in Council prescribing the content of the census. The final format of the 1991 census questions will be included in the census regulations which are expected to be laid before Parliament in 1990.
380WThe 1991 census for Northern Ireland will be taken under separate legislation. This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.