§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when the 1991 census preliminary report for England and Wales will be published.
§ Mr. DorrellThe preliminary report for England and Wales containing counts of the population recorded as406W present in each local authority area has been laid before Parliament by the Registrar General and is published today. The corresponding report for Scotland is also published today.
The report includes a description of the main findings from the first counts and an explanation of the limitations of the figures, which can give only a broad picture of the patterns of population change since the 1981 census.
These preliminary figures show that the fastest-growing regions were East Anglia, the south-west, and the east midlands. Fewer people were counted in Greater London and all six metropolitan counties in 1991 than in 1981; with the most significant decreases occurring in metropolitan districts, including the principal cities. The fastest-growing local authority districts were generally those in remote rural areas, those which include new towns, and those in resort and retirement areas.
A comprehensive and detailed analysis of population change will be possible once the first computer-processed figures of the resident population are available. These will start to become available towards the end of this year and be completed by the middle of 1992.
The census monitor giving counts of people sleeping rough referred to in my answer of 9 July at column 337 is also published today.
Copies of these reports have been placed in the Library.