§ Mr. FisherTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is his intention to include questions on(a) ethnic origin and (b) disability in the 1991 census.
§ Mr. FreemanThe Government's proposals for the 1991 census in Great Britain were published in a White Paper (Cm. 430) on 19 July 1988.
A question on disability is not included in the proposals. The census will, however, include a question on long-term illness in which each person will be asked whether he or she has any long-term illness, health problem or handicap which limits his or her daily activities.
A question on ethnic group is to be included in the census test in April 1989 and the results studied by the Government before deciding whether to include such a question in the final plans for the 1991 census.