§ 27. Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations he has received about the census in Wales. [141915]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyI have received very few representations about this matter, with only around 10 letters in all, including those from Members of the House. The representations that I receive shows that people are more concerned with those issues which really matter: cutting crime, supporting pensioners and improving health care and education.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what further steps he has taken to enable people to indicate their national identity by way of a Welsh tick-box in the forthcoming census. [142006]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyThere are a variety of opportunities for those of us who are Welsh to express our national identity in the forthcoming census. Anyone who writes in the ethnic group question that they are Welsh will be counted as such. Unlike a simple tick-box on the census form this will identify those Welsh people who are from black, Asian or other backgrounds. We are explicitly recognising the diversity of those who regard themselves as Welsh and who have other ethnic backgrounds.
A question on the country of birth will enable people to indicate that they were born in Wales and respondents will be asked whether they can understand, speak, read or write in the Welsh language.