§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the draft religious questions which are being tested for inclusion in the 2001 census are being phrased in such a way as to identify each of the main Christian denominations. [14389]
§ Mrs. Angela KnightThe question on religious affiliation to be asked in the 1997 census test in England and Scotland will include pre-coded tick-boxes for Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Islam, Jewish and Sikh, but318W will not identify the main Christian denominations. The census test in Northern Ireland will include a different question, which is worded to meet the local requirements for information, and which does identify the main Christian denominations present in the Province.
The final choice of questions to be included in the census will be made after a full evaluation of the results of the census test, further research, and a further extensive round of consultation. All this information will be taken into account when the Government publish their proposals for questions to be included in the 2001 census in a White Paper in mid-1998. The White Paper will invite comment. The census order paper will be debated in Parliament.