§ Mr. DUNCAN MILLARasked the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been called to the facts that the first return of the population of the burgh of Linlithgow, under the recent Census, was 4,003; that later the registrar discovered that the name of a child had been included in the return which had been dead for some time prior to the enumeration and that he reduced the return to 4,002; that in this number were included the members of a travelling circus company living in caravans and tents as well as a special number of workers temporarily employed in laying the Carriden pipe track who were housed at lodging houses in the burgh; whether the persons above referred to will be treated as included in the population of the burgh for the purposes of the 1439W Licensing (Scotland) Act of 1903; and whether the Secretary for Scotland will take the above circumstances into account when he considers as to whether Linlithgow should be included among the burghs of 4,000 population which have a separate licensing court of their own?
§ Mr. UREAccording to the Preliminary Report on the recent Census of Scotland the population of the Burgh of Linlithgow was returned as 4,002, the figure stated by my hon. Friend. The Census population was taken in terms of the Census Act and of the instructions issued under that Act. The only duty of the Secretary for Scotland under the Licensing Act in the matter referred to is to declare the population according to the Census.
§ Mr. DUNCAN MILLARasked the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that the local enumerators engaged in connection with the recent Census Returns in Scotland have not yet received payment for the work undertaken by them, although their duties were completed on 10th April, and that on the occasion of the last Census in 1901 payment was made to the enumerators about 18th May; and whether he will take steps to secure that payment for the services rendered by them shall be made to all the Census enumerators at an early moment?
§ Mr. UREThe examination and audit of the Census Accounts for the whole of Scotland is necessarily a work of considerable magnitude. Three-fourths of the total amount of the claims have now been paid. The remainder are being dealt with as rapidly as possible, and it is hoped that they will be overtaken at an early date.
§ Mr. WATTasked the Lord Advocate if he will state who was responsible for the accuracy of the Census Returns in the West of Scotland; was particular care taken 1440W that all Census papers were gathered in after being filled up; can he say that in the North-West Division of Glasgow no Census papers were overlooked; and, in particular, can he say that all the papers at 64, Buccleuch Street were returned to headquarters?
§ Mr. UREThe accuracy of the Census Returns depends, in the first instance, upon the care with which heads of families and separate occupiers entitled to be supplied with schedules have filled them up. The schedules were distributed and collected by the appointed enumerators under the general supervision of the local registrars, and I have every reason to believe that the work was carefully and accurately done. I am not aware that in the North-West Division of Glasgow any Census Paper has been overlooked, but in view of my hon. Friend's question special inquiry will be made in regard to the address he mentions.