HC Deb 23 May 1991 vol 191 cc589-90W
Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what instructions were given to census enumerators in Wales with regard to making freely available to each household a set of census forms in the Welsh language; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Dorrell

Census enumerators were instructed to offer all households in Wales the choice of a Welsh or English form as part of the form delivery procedure. Regrettably, reports were received that some enumerators had not done so. Special instructions were therefore issued to ensure that when the enumerator called back to collect completed forms, anyone who had not been offered a Welsh form could obtain one from the enumerator who would call back later to collect it when completed. All English language household forms used in Wales contained a prominent note enabling people who wanted a Welsh language form to get one by telephoning the census inquiry number.

I hope that these measures have ensured that everyone in Wales who wanted to use a Welsh form was able to do so.

Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the forms used at the recent census were printed in the Welsh language.

Mr. Dorrell

All public census forms for issue in Wales were available in both Welsh and English; 200,000 household forms, 90,000 individual forms, and 10,000 listing forms for use in communal establishments were printed in Welsh. Figures are not yet available on how many were used.

Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints he has received arising from the administration of the recent census, arising from(a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland, respectively; and if he will list the main grounds of complaint in each country.

Mr. Dorrell

We received 73 letters between 1 April and 21 May from right hon. and hon. Members in England and Wales conveying comments from constituents on aspects of the census. The Registrar General is replying to 69 other letters from right hon. and hon. Members who have written to him or whose letters have been forwarded to him from Ministers in other Departments. No analysis of the different aspects of the census mentioned in the correspondence is available yet.

Information relating to Scotland and Northern Ireland, is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Northern Ireland.