§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy that the 2001 Census includes questions relating to levels of income, poverty and wealth. [1543]
§ Mrs. LiddellThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange a reply to be given.
154WLetter from Tim Holt to Mrs. Ann Clwyd, dated 2 June 1997:
The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply, as Director of the Office for National Statistics, to your recent Parliamentary question concerning questions about levels of income, poverty and wealth in the 2001 Census.The Census Offices have been consulting users about the need for questions in the 2001 Census, and a number of new questions are being trialled in the 1997 Census Test which will be held in June. The Test questionnaire includes questions which would provide statistics related to poverty and wealth. In particular, the Test will include a question about banded individual gross income.The Government will publish their proposals for questions to be included in the Census in a White Paper in mid-1998. These proposals will be based on users' substantial requirements for information, and on evidence gathered in the 1997 Census Test on the public's reaction to the possible questions. The White Paper will invite comment.